Jon Benjamin (diplomat) explained

Jonathan "Jon" Benjamin (born 19 January 1963) is a British diplomat. He joined the United Kingdom's diplomatic service in 1986.[1] He studied German, Swedish and international relations at the University of Surrey.[2]

During his career, he has served as consul general in New York City and has represented UK interests in Indonesia and Turkey. He was Ambassador to Chile in 2009 - 2014 and High Commissioner to Ghana and ambassador to several neighbouring countries in 2014 - 2017. He was later the director of the Diplomatic Academy in London.[1] His other roles in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have included appointments as the head of the human rights policy department (2002 - 2005), the deputy head of the drugs and international crime department (2000 - 2002) and the head of the Zimbabwe emergency unit (2000).[2]

He was appointed Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Mexico in 2021, replacing Corin Robertson.[3] In May 2024, he was removed from that position when a video emerged of him pointing an assault rifle at an embassy employee while on a tour of the Mexican states of Sinaloa and Durango.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jon Benjamin: Biography . Government of the United Kingdom . 1 June 2024.
  2. Web site: Grad Bites: Life as a Diplomat . Grad Bites . 1 June 2024.
  3. Web site: Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Mexico: Jon Benjamin . 1 June 2024 . 19 January 2021 . Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
  4. News: Grant . Will . Smith . Alex . UK ambassador left post after 'pointing gun at staff' . 31 May 2024 . BBC News . 31 May 2024.
  5. News: Graham, Thomas. British ambassador to Mexico sacked after pointing gun at embassy employee . . 2024-06-01 . 2024-06-01 .