Press release: Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran

Mr Rob Macaire CMG has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran in succession to Mr Nicholas Hopton who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Macaire will take up his appointment in April 2018.

Commenting on the appointment, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

Iran has an important role to play in the Middle East region, but it is essential that it does so in a constructive way – something I made clear during my visit to Tehran in December last year. The Iran deal, signed in 2015, was a huge diplomatic success. The product of years of patient and persistent diplomacy that extinguished the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

In that vein, I am pleased that Rob will be applying his wealth of international experience to leading the government’s engagement in Tehran. We face challenges – including the ongoing cases of British dual-nationals detained in Iran – and areas for potential collaboration. I look forward to working with him across these areas.

Mr Macaire said:

I am honoured to be appointed the new British Ambassador to Iran. The UK’s continued engagement with Iran is vital to our goal of making the Middle East region a safer and more stable place. I look forward to working with the Government of Iran and with international partners to preserve the nuclear deal and deepen our bilateral relationship, through constructive engagement on human rights, trade, and seeking political solutions to the conflicts in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name:	Robert Macaire CMG
Married to:	Alice Macaire
Children:	Two

2016 – present	Language Training
2011 – 2016	BG Group plc. Director of Government/Public Affairs and Political Risk
2008 – 2011	Nairobi, British High Commissioner
2006 – 2008	FCO, Director, Consular Services
2004 – 2006	New Delhi, Political Counsellor
2002 – 2004	FCO, Head, Counter Terrorism Policy Department
1998 – 2002	Washington, First Secretary, Middle East and Counter-terrorism
1998	FCO, Head of Sierra Leone Unit, Africa Directorate
1997 –1998	FCO, Head of Southern Africa Section, Africa Directorate
1996 – 1997	FCO, Head of MEPP Section, Near East and North Africa Department
1995 – 1996	FCO, Head of Levant Section, Near East and North Africa Department
1991 – 1995	Bucharest, Second Secretary (Know How Fund)
1990	FCO, Falkland Islands Department