Press release

Change of UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York

Matthew Rycroft has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Matthew Rycroft

Mr Matthew Rycroft CBE has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in succession to Sir Mark Lyall-Grant KCMG, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Rycroft will take up his appointment during April 2015.

Mr Rycroft joined the FCO in 1989 and has recently served on the FCO Board as Chief Operating Officer. Overseas he has been British Ambassador in Bosnia and earlier in his career had postings in Washington, Paris and the UN in Geneva. In London, he has worked as the FCO Europe Director and the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

On his appointment as the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Mr Rycroft said

I am honoured and delighted to be appointed as British Ambassador to the UN in New York. The UN is instrumental in preserving international peace and security, in promoting development and human rights, and so much more. The UK’s role as a Permanent Member of the Security Council gives us a special responsibility which we must use with care. I very much look forward to the challenge.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name Matthew Rycroft CBE
Married to Alison Rycroft
Children Three daughters
2011 – Sept 2014 FCO, Chief Operating Officer
2008 – 2011 FCO, Europe Director
2005 – 2008 Sarajevo, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2002 – 2004 No. 10, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs
1998 – 2002 Washington, First Secretary
1996 - 1998 FCO, Policy Planning
1995 – 1996 FCO, Head of Political Section, Eastern Adriatic Department
1991 - 1995 Paris, Third then Second Secretary
1990-91 FCO, Security Policy Department
1990 UK Disarmament Delegation, UN, Geneva
1989 Joined FCO

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Published 7 October 2014