Chris Sainty
Biography
Chris Sainty took up his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Portugal in September 2018. Previously, he was the Deputy Head of Mission for Italy from August 2011 to August 2015.
A career diplomat, he brings experience from a number of Foreign Office Departments as well as overseas postings in India, Pakistan, Spain and the Netherlands.
Chris has spent much of his career working on European Union issues: he headed the Foreign & Commonwealth Office team responsible for the organisation of the UK’s presidency of the EU in 2005.
Chris studied mathematics and philosophy at Oxford University.
Curriculum Vitae
| 2015 – 2017 | FCO, European Correspondent and Head of Europe (South) Department, Europe Directorate |
| 2011 – 2015 | Rome, Deputy Head of Mission |
| 2008 – 2010 | Islamabad, Political Counsellor |
| 2006 – 2008 | The Hague, Deputy Head of Mission |
| 2004 – 2006 | FCO, Head of EU Presidency Department |
| 2000 – 2004 | Madrid, First Secretary (Political) |
| 1998 – 2000 | FCO, Head of Newsroom, Press Office |
| 1996 – 1998 | FCO, Common Foreign and Security Policy Unit |
| 1992 – 1996 | New Delhi, Second Secretary (Political) |
| 1990 – 1992 | FCO, Hong Kong Department |