Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Simon Collis has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mr Simon Collis CMG has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in succession to Sir John Jenkins KCMG LVO, who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Collis will take up his appointment at the end of January 2015.
Mr Collis joined the FCO in 1978 and after studying Arabic has served mainly in the Middle East and South Asia. His first posting was to Bahrain. He has been British Ambassador to Iraq, Syria and Qatar. He was British Consul-General in Dubai and in Basra. He has also served in Tunis, New Delhi and Amman.
On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Collis has said:
I am honoured and delighted to be appointed as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I look forward to working closely with the government of Saudi Arabia to build even stronger relations across the range of our already substantial shared interests. After serving in the Middle East for much of my diplomatic career, I also look forward to developing our engagement on regional issues at a time of significant challenges. There is much we can achieve together to build prosperity, enhance security and tackle global issues.
CURRICULUM VITAE
| Full name | Simon Paul Collis CMG |
| 2012 – 2014 | Baghdad, Her Majesty’s Ambassador |
| 2007 – 2012 | Damascus, Her Majesty’s Ambassador |
| 2005 – 2007 | Doha, Her Majesty’s Ambassador |
| 2004 – 2005 | Basra, Consul General |
| 2000 – 2004 | Dubai, Consul General |
| 1999 – 2000 | Secondment to BP |
| 1996 – 1999 | Amman, Deputy Head of Mission |
| 1994 – 1996 | FCO, Deputy Head, Near East & North Africa Department |
| 1991 – 1994 | New Delhi, First Secretary |
| 1990 – 1991 | FCO, Gulf War Emergency Unit |
| 1988 – 1990 | Tunis, Deputy Head of Mission |
| 1987 – 1988 | FCO, Head of India Section, South Asia Department |
| 1986 | UKMis New York, Temporary Duty |
| 1984 – 1986 | FCO, Middle East Spokesman, News Department |
| 1981 – 1984 | Bahrain, Second Secretary |
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