Nigel Sheinwald

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Sir Nigel Sheinwald
GCMG
British Ambassador to the
United States
In office
October 2007 – January 2012
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Preceded by Sir David Manning
Succeeded by Sir Peter Westmacott
British Permanent Representative to the European Union
In office
2000–2003
Preceded by Sir Stephen Wall
Succeeded by Sir John Grant
Personal details
Born (1953-06-26) 26 June 1953
London, United Kingdom
Alma mater Balliol College, Oxford
Website "UK in USA"

Sir Nigel Elton Sheinwald GCMG (born 26 June 1953) is a senior British diplomat, who served as HM Ambassador to the United States of America, October 2007-January 2012.

In June 2011, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Sir Peter Westmacott, then HM Ambassador to the French Republic would replace Sir Nigel in January 2012 as British Ambassador to the US.[1]

Education

Sheinwald was born in London, England, and educated at Harrow County School for Boys and Balliol College, Oxford.

Career

Sheinwald worked in the Foreign Office on Japan from 1976 to 1977 and Zimbabwe from 1979 to 1981. He served in Moscow from 1978 to 1979 and was Head of the Foreign Office Anglo-Soviet Section from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1987 he worked in the political section of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. From 1987 to 1989 he was Deputy Head of the Foreign Office's Policy Planning Staff. He was Deputy Head of the Foreign Office's European Union (Internal) Department from 1989 to 1992 and Head of the UK Representations Political and Institutional Section in Brussels from 1993 to 1995.

Sheinwald was Foreign Office Press Secretary from 1995 to 1998 and Europe Director from 1998 to 2000 before serving as the UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union from 2000 to 2003. From 2003 to 2007, he served as Foreign Policy and Defence Adviser under Prime Minister Tony Blair and as Head of the Cabinet Office Defence and Overseas Secretariat.

He is credited with successfully negotiating the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel from Iran in 2007. He made a critical breakthrough in the standoff during a call with the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani.[2] In October 2007 he was appointed Ambassador to the United States.[3]

Sheinwald was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1998,[4] advanced to knighthood as a Knight Commander (KCMG) in 2000,[5] and promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same Order (GCMG) in 2011.[6]

With effect from 1 July 2012, Sheinwald is a non-executive director of Royal Dutch Shell.

References

  1. ↑ "Senior Diplomatic Appointments". Number 10. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2011. 
  2. ↑ Boston Globe "In surprise move, Iran frees 15 Britons"
  3. ↑ Foreign & Commonwealth Office "Sir Nigel Sheinwald's bio"
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 55354. p. 3. 30 December 1998.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56070. p. 3. 30 December 2000.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59808. p. 3. 11 June 2011.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Sir David Manning		 British Ambassador to the United States
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
Sir Peter Westmacott
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