William (Bill) Longhurst
Biography
Bill Longhurst is Deputy Head of Mission to Switzerland.
Bill took up the role as Deputy Head of Mission and HM Consul-General for Switzerland and Liechtenstein in July 2019.
Prior to this, he served as British Ambassador to Cambodia (2014 to 2018). Bill previously served with the British government in Seoul (Political and Economic/Trade Policy), Tokyo (Commercial), the UK’s Mission to the United Nations in New York (UN Budget and Management Reform) and as Deputy Head of Mission and Consul-General in Belgrade.
Before joining the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Bill studied Japanese and Business Studies at the University of Sheffield, and had a short spell working at a major Japanese Trust bank in Tokyo.
In his London career, he has worked on G7 policy issues; been seconded to the then Department of Trade and Industry, promoting exports to the Japanese market and worked as Deputy Head of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s ASEAN Department.
Deputy Head of Mission, Switzerland
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. The Deputy is responsible for the daily management of an overseas Embassy or High Commission. They will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister. Smaller missions may not have a Deputy Head.
Previous roles in government
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British Ambassador to Cambodia