Simon Smith (diplomat)

Simon John Meredith Smith CMG (born 14 January 1958) is a British diplomat, most recently the ambassador (now retired) to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

His Excellency
Simon Smith
CMG
British Ambassador to South Korea
In office
March 2018 – 2022
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded byCharles Hay
Succeeded byColin Crooks
British Ambassador to Ukraine
In office
2012–2015
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byLeigh Turner
Succeeded byJudith Gough
British Ambassador to Austria
In office
2007–2012
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
David Cameron
Preceded byJohn Macgregor
Succeeded bySusan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque
Personal details
Born
Simon John Meredith Smith

(1958-01-14) 14 January 1958
Wegberg, Germany
NationalityBritish
SpouseSian Stickings
Children2 daughters
EducationClifton College
Alma materWadham College, Oxford

Early life

Smith attended the Triple C School in Grand Cayman, then Clifton College. From Wadham College, Oxford, he gained a BA in Modern Languages in 1980.

Career

From 1981 to 1986 Smith worked at the Department of Employment. He joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in 1986 and has held positions in London, Tokyo, and as Counsellor (Economic/Commercial) in Moscow 1998–2002.[1]

Ambassador

From 2007 to 2012 Smith served as Ambassador to Austria, based in Vienna, and as the UK's representative to many UN and international organisations in Vienna, including as the UK's Governor on the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.[1] His transfer to Kyiv as Ambassador to Ukraine was announced on 13 October 2011[1] and he took up the appointment in 2012.[2] He was replaced in 2015.[3] After a brief spell in London and Korean language training, he was appointed Ambassador to South Korea[2] and took up the post in March 2018.[4]

Personal life

Smith married Sian Stickings in 1984. She was appointed MBE "for services to the local and British communities in Russia" in the 2003 New Year Honours,[5] following Smith's service in Moscow. They have two daughters.

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References
  • SMITH, Simon John Meredith, Who's Who 2012, A & C Black, 2012; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2011, accessed 27 Aug 2012
  1. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ukraine". press release. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011.
  2. "Change of Her Majestys Ambassador to the Republic of Korea". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 3 February 2017.
  3. Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ukraine, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 26 March 2015
  4. "New U.K. Ambassador No Stranger to Korea". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 March 2018.
  5. "No. 56797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2002. p. 25.

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