Ajay Sharma CMG

Biography

Mr Ajay Sharma was appointed Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim to the Republic of Türkiye in July 2022.

Ajay was previously UK Cyprus Settlement Coordinator from 2021 to 2022, after serving as Deputy Political Director. He served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar from 2015 to 2020.

Ajay earlier served as the Iran Coordinator in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and in the UK team which negotiated the Iran nuclear deal. He reopened the British Embassy in Tehran in August 2015. Ajay has had previous diplomatic postings in Ankara, Moscow and Paris.

Ajay was appointed a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in 2016.

Follow Ajay Sharma on Twitter: @AjaySharmaFCO

Curriculum vitae

2021 to 2022 FCDO, UK Cyprus Settlement Coordinator
2020 to 2021 FCDO, Deputy Political Director
2015 to 2020 Doha, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Qatar
2012 to 2015 FCO Iran Coordinator, followed by non-resident, then resident Chargé d’affaires to Iran
2008 to 2012 Paris, Deputy Ambassador to France
2007 to 2008 Tehran, Deputy Ambassador to Iran
2007 Language training (Farsi)
2005 to 2007 FCO, Deputy Head of Security Policy Department
2003 to 2005 Ankara, Head of Political Section
2002 to 2003 Moscow, Head of Economic Section
2001 to 2002 Language training (Russian)
2000 to 2001 Secondment to Her Majesty’s Treasury
1997 to 2000 Ankara, Second Secretary Political
1996 to 1997 Language training (Turkish)
1995 to 1996 FCO, Desk Officer Hungary and Slovakia, European Department

Previous roles in government

  • Chargé d'Affaires to Turkey
  • British Ambassador to Qatar
  • Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran