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Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire

Mr Mark Bensberg has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Mark Bensberg

Mark Bensberg

He will succeed Mr Simon David Tonge, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Bensberg will take up his appointment during June 2014.

Mr Bensberg joined the FCO in 1980 and has worked in a wide range of roles. He has spent more than half his overseas career in Africa, serving in Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and most recently as British High Commissioner to Namibia.

On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Bensberg said:

I am delighted to be given this opportunity to develop our relations with Côte d’Ivoire, with which Britain shares a rapidly-growing high level prosperity partnership. It is a great privilege to work together with the government of Côte d’Ivoire and businesses to identify opportunities to increase trade and investment, creating mutual growth and jobs; and to further Britain’s active support for the development of a sustainable peace, security and democracy in Côte d’Ivoire.

I look forward to working closely with Côte d’Ivoire on a range of shared regional issues.

Curriculum vitae

Personal details
Full name: Mark Bensberg
Married to: Jacqueline Margaret Bensberg (née Campbell)
Children: One daughter
Period Post
2011 – present FCO, Deputy Director, Estates & Security Directorate
2007 – 2011 Windhoek, High Commissioner
2004 – 2006 Kinshasa, Deputy Head of Mission
2002 – 2004 FCO, Deputy Head, Passports & Documentary Services Group
2000 – 2002 UKTI, Corporate Performance Unit
1997 – 2000 Brussels, Head, Press & Public Affairs Section
1994 – 1997 Accra, Second Secretary (Political, Press & Public Affairs)
1991 – 1994 FCO, Desk Officer, Drugs & International Crime Department
1988 – 1991 Vienna, Vice-Consul
1985 – 1987 Africa/Middle East floater
1982 – 1985 Paris, Attaché
1980 – 1982 FCO, Western European Department

Further information

UK and Côte d’Ivoire

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Published 17 December 2013