Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire
Mr Mark Bensberg has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire.
Mark Bensberg
He will succeed Mr Simon David Tonge, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Bensberg will take up his appointment during June 2014.
Mr Bensberg joined the FCO in 1980 and has worked in a wide range of roles. He has spent more than half his overseas career in Africa, serving in Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and most recently as British High Commissioner to Namibia.
On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Bensberg said:
I am delighted to be given this opportunity to develop our relations with Côte d’Ivoire, with which Britain shares a rapidly-growing high level prosperity partnership. It is a great privilege to work together with the government of Côte d’Ivoire and businesses to identify opportunities to increase trade and investment, creating mutual growth and jobs; and to further Britain’s active support for the development of a sustainable peace, security and democracy in Côte d’Ivoire.
I look forward to working closely with Côte d’Ivoire on a range of shared regional issues.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Mark Bensberg
| Date | Role |
|---|---|
| 2011 – present | FCO, Deputy Director, Estates & Security Directorate |
| 2007 – 2011 | Windhoek, High Commissioner |
| 2004 – 2006 | Kinshasa, Deputy Head of Mission |
| 2002 – 2004 | FCO, Deputy Head, Passports & Documentary Services Group |
| 2000 – 2002 | UKTI, Corporate Performance Unit |
| 1997 – 2000 | Brussels, Head, Press & Public Affairs Section |
| 1994 – 1997 | Accra, Second Secretary (Political, Press & Public Affairs) |
| 1991 – 1994 | FCO, Desk Officer, Drugs & International Crime Department |
| 1988 – 1991 | Vienna, Vice-Consul |
| 1985 – 1987 | Africa/Middle East floater |
| 1982 – 1985 | Paris, Attaché |
| 1980 – 1982 | FCO, Western European Department |
Further information
Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice