Peter Ricketts
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Forbes Ricketts, GCMG (born September 1952) is a senior British
diplomat
who currently serves as National Security Adviser to HM Government
On 24 June 2011, the Prime Minister's Office
announced that Sir Peter Ricketts will replace Sir Peter Westmacott
as HM Ambassador to France effective January 2012, with Sir Kim Darroch
taking Sir Peter's old role as National Security Adviser.
. He was also previously the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, leading him to give evidence to The Iraq Inquiry in November 2009.
Sir Peter began his career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
in 1974 and served as the Assistant Private Secretary to former Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe
. Apart from Brussels, he has been posted to Singapore, Washington D.C. and Paris.
, Sutton Coldfield
, and Pembroke College, Oxford
where he read English Literature.
Sir Peter was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), he was further promoted within the same Order as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2011 New Year Honours.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who currently serves as National Security Adviser to HM Government
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
On 24 June 2011, the Prime Minister's Office
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
announced that Sir Peter Ricketts will replace Sir Peter Westmacott
Peter Westmacott
Sir Peter John Westmacott, KCMG, LVO is a senior British diplomat, currently serving as HM Ambassador to the French Republic....
as HM Ambassador to France effective January 2012, with Sir Kim Darroch
Kim Darroch
Sir Kim Darroch, KCMG is a British diplomat. He was educated at Abingdon School and Durham University. He currently serves as the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the European Union....
taking Sir Peter's old role as National Security Adviser.
Career
Prior to his appointment as National Security Adviser, Sir Peter had been the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Before he took over that position in July 2006, he served as the Permanent Representative to NATO in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He was also previously the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, leading him to give evidence to The Iraq Inquiry in November 2009.
Sir Peter began his career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
in 1974 and served as the Assistant Private Secretary to former Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe
Geoffrey Howe
Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, QC, PC is a former British Conservative politician. He was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister, successively holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and finally Leader of the House of Commons...
. Apart from Brussels, he has been posted to Singapore, Washington D.C. and Paris.
Personal life
Sir Peter attended Bishop Vesey’s Grammar SchoolBishop Vesey's Grammar School
Bishop Vesey's Grammar School is a selective state grammar school in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Founded in 1527, it is one of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom. The school was a day and boarding school until the 1880s, and retained a small number of boarders in the mid-20th century...
, Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
, and Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
where he read English Literature.
Sir Peter was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), he was further promoted within the same Order as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2011 New Year Honours.