Michael Holloway OBE

Biography

Michael John ‘MJ’ Holloway has been at the forefront of improving FCO’s customer services, and efficiency programmes. As Director for Consular Services in Iberia between 2005-2010, MJ led the FCO’s largest and busiest consular network providing support services to over 1 million British residents and about 18 million British visitors to the region. MJ was awarded an OBE in 2009 for modernising and improving consular support services for Brits overseas.

Until 2005, MJ was Head of Resources for the Europe Directorate - managing the budget of some 80 Embassies and Consulates across Europe. From 2002-2003, MJ was Director for Visa Services in Dhaka - where he pioneered new visa service delivery and operating models. MJ’s career has focussed on Latin America and Iberia. He previously served as Deputy Consul-General in Rio de Janeiro where he led the trade and investment team at a time when UK companies where breaking into Brazil’s emerging energy sector. Before that, he was Political and Press Secretary at the British Embassy in Mexico City.

MJ was brought up in Canterbury, Kent, England, where he went to St. Edmund’s School. His hobbies include painting, walking, dogs and gardening.