Press release

Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Simon Collis has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Simon Collis

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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Published 21 January 2015