News story

New Political Director and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan

Simon Gass has been appointed as Political Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Published: 1 February 2013

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

Simon previously served as NATO Senior Civilian Representative for Afghanistan, and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran and Greece.

He will succeed Mark Sedwill, who will be moving to the Home Office as Permanent Secretary. Simon took up this appointment on 28 January.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Simon Gass
Married to: Marianne Gass
Children: 2 sons, 1 daughter

2011 – 2012 Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan

2009 – 2011 Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Tehran

2004 – 2009 Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Athens

2001 – 2004 FCO, Finance Director

1998 – 2001 Pretoria, Deputy High Commissioner

1995 – 1998 FCO, Deputy Head, then Head, EU (Internal) Department

1992 – 1995 Rome, First Secretary

1990 – 1992 FCO, Assistant Private Secretary to Secretary of State

1987 – 1990 FCO, Security Policy Department

1984 – 1987 Athens, First Secretary

1979 – 1984 Lagos, Second Secretary

1977 – 1979 FCO, United Nations Department

Published 1 February 2013