Summary of business appointments applications - Sir Adam Thomson
Published 12 October 2016
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Sir Adam Thomson will leave his role as Ambassador to NATO in November 2016.
1. Director, European Leadership Network
Sir Adam sought the Committee’s advice on a role as Director of the European Leadership Network (ELN), a think tank specialising in security issues.
When considering this application, the Committee noted that Sir Adam’s new role is a full time one and involves running the organisation. He was offered the role having applied for an advertised post.
The Committee noted that the role may involve some contact with the UK Government and the FCO due to the fact that, as a think tank, the ELN communicates with officials and Ministers in a wide range of European and North American Governments, including the UK. However, Sir Adam has been clear that he would have no contact with the Government regarding funding of the think tank.
The Committee took into account the views of the FCO, who did not believe that there could be any perception of reward with this appointment, and confirmed that Sir Adam had not had access to any commercially valuable or sensitive information.
The Committee advised the Foreign Secretary that it could see no reason why Sir Adam should not take up this post, subject to the following conditions:
- He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;
- For six months from his last day in Crown service, Sir Adam should not have dealings with or advise on matters relating to NATO; and
- For two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the ELN or its clients. This does not preclude contact with Government through sharing ideas and thinking, but does preclude any interaction with Government, including making use, either directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service, to influence funding or grants for the ELN.
The letter containing the final advice was sent in August 2016 and the appointment was announced in September 2016.