UK’s new Consul General arrives in Chicago
Stephen John Bridges, a career diplomat, assumed his role as Her Majesty’s Consul General in Chicago today.
Stephen Bridges is the new British Consul General in Chicago.
Stephen succeeds Robert Chatterton Dickson, who departed in July to serve as Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan after three years as Consul General in Chicago.
Consul General Bridges said:
“I am delighted to be able to represent the United Kingdom in America’s heartland. This is an exciting time for both UK and USA and I am very much looking forward to working with, and developing, our already extensive network of allies and partners to promote our mutual prosperity.”
From Chicago, Consul General Bridges will lead a team of 30 people responsible for supporting the UK’s interests and assisting British nationals in 13 states across the Midwest. These states are home to 70 million people, have a combined GDP of $3.5 trillion and house the headquarters of 127 Fortune 500 companies – many of which are major employers and investors in the UK.
Consul General Bridges arrives in Chicago after nearly 30 years of experience with the British Diplomatic Service including postings in South Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia (where he served as Ambassador from 2001 to 2004) and Bangladesh (where he was Deputy High Commissioner, Consul General and Director for Trade & Investment from 2005 to 2007).
Bridges has also worked in the private sector where he was Director of a pair of companies involved in natural resources and renewable energy from 2007 to 2011.
Stephen is joined in Chicago by his wife Kim.