Simon Shercliff (born 23 December 1972)[1] is a British diplomat, and was ambassador to Iran from 2021[2] to 2024 [3]
Simon Shercliff | |
|---|---|
 | |
| British Ambassador to Iran | |
| In office August 2021 – October 2024 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Robert Macaire |
| Succeeded by | Hugo Shorter |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Education and career
editShercliff was educated at Wells Cathedral School.[4] He graduated from St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1995, with a degree in Earth Sciences.[5][6]
Shercliff took up his first posting with the (then) Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2000, as a political officer in the embassy in Tehran, Iran, in 2000. He was subsequently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq as Private Secretary to Jeremy Greenstock, who was the UK's special representative to Iraq. Later postings took him to Washington, D.C., Kabul, Abuja and then to Yemen, as British ambassador.[7] He returned to London as Director of National Security for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in February 2018.
In August 2021, he became the British ambassador to Iran.[8] and served until 2024 when replaced by Hugo Shorter. [3]
Honours
editIn December 2004, Shercliff was awarded an OBE in the Civilian Honours list "in recognition of services to the reconstruction of Iraq and towards its transition to democracy".[9]
In the 2021 New Year Honours Shercliff was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) "for services to British foreign policy and National Security."[10]
Family
editHe is married to Emma Louise Shercliff, and they have two children.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Shercliff, Simon, (born 23 Dec. 1972), HM Diplomatic Service; Ambassador to Iran, since 2021." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2007
- ^ Wintour, Patrick (12 August 2021). "UK ambassador angers Iran with 'insulting' embassy photo gaffe". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Change of His Majesty's Ambassador to Iran: Hugo Shorter". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Simon Shercliff – from Wells to the world (and back)". Wells Cathedral School. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Simon Shercliff CMG OBE". FCO. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "New Year Honours for Catz alumni". St Catharine’s College. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Simon Shercliff CMG OBE". GOV.UK.
- ^ a b "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran: Simon Shercliff". FCO. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Page 2 | Supplement 57485, 4 December 2004 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- ^ "The New Year Honours 2021". GOV.UK. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.