Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Afghanistan
Karen Pierce has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Ms Karen Pierce CMG has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in succession to Sir Richard Stagg KCMG, who has retired from the Diplomatic Service. Ms Pierce will take up her appointment during May 2015.
Ms Pierce joined the FCO in 1982 and has served in Tokyo, Washington, at the UN in New York and since 2012 as the UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, WTO and other International Organisations in Geneva.
On her appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ms Pierce said:
It is a huge honour to represent the United Kingdom in Afghanistan and a privilege to follow all those British military and civilians who have given so much to the country and to whom we owe such a deep debt.
A stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan is important to Britain as well as to the people of Afghanistan. The excellent cross-Government team in our Kabul Embassy has been taking forward Britain’s lasting commitment to Afghanistan’s security and development. I am excited about working with them and working in partnership with the Afghan Government and people to build on the results of November’s London Conference, affirming the path to lasting peace, security and prosperity.
CURRICULUM VITAE
| Full name | Karen Elizabeth Pierce CMG |
|---|---|
| 2012 – present | UKMIS Geneva, Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations |
| 2009 – 2012 | FCO, Director, South Asia & Afghanistan (UK Special Representative for Afghanistan & Pakistan (SRAP) June 2010-June 2011) |
| 2006 – 2009 | UKMIS New York, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ambassador |
| 2003 – 2006 | FCO, Balkans Co-ordinator & UK Representative on Contact Group |
| 2000 – 2002 | FCO, Head of EU Department, Bilateral & concurrently, after 9/11, Head of Afghanistan Political Military Unit |
| 1999 – 2000 | FCO, Head of Newsroom, Press Office |
| 1997 – 1999 | FCO, Head of Bosnia Section and then Deputy Head of Eastern Adriatic Department |
| 1996 – 1997 | FCO, Team Leader for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova |
| 1992 – 1995 | Washington, Private Secretary |
| 1987 – 1991 | FCO, Security Policy Department |
| 1984 – 1987 | Tokyo, Third Secretary |
| 1983 – 1984 | Language Training, SOAS |
| 1982 – 1983 | FCO, Aviation, Maritime and Environment Department |
| 1982 | Joined FCO |
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