Peter Wilson (diplomat) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Peter Wilson
Honorific-Suffix:CMG
Office:Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
Term Start:8 March 2022
Term End:6 September 2022
Predecessor:Martin Reynolds
Successor:Nick Catsaras
Primeminister:Boris Johnson
Office1:British Ambassador to Brazil
Term Start1:January 2021
Term End1:March 2022
Predecessor1:Vijay Rangarajan
Successor1:Stephanie Al-Qaq
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Primeminister1:Boris Johnson
Office2:British Ambassador to the Netherlands
Term Start2:August 2017
Term End2:September 2020
Predecessor2:Geoffrey Adams
Successor2:Joanna Roper
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Primeminister2:Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Father:David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
Birth Name:Peter Michael Alexander Wilson
Birth Date:1968 3, df=yes
Nationality:British
Children:3
Education:Eton College
Alma Mater:Merton College, Oxford
Harvard University

Peter Michael Alexander Wilson (born 31 March 1968) is a civil servant whose most recent post was to serve as Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He has also served as British Ambassador to Brazil, British Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Early life

Wilson is a son of David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn. He was educated at Eton and Merton College, Oxford. He also has a MPA degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Career

Wilson joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1992 and was posted to Beijing where he studied Mandarin at the University of International Business and Economics. He served at the British embassy in Beijing 1995–98. In early 1999 he was appointed to the cabinet of Sir Leon Brittan, who was a Vice-President of the European Commission. After Brittan resigned with the rest of the Santer Commission in March 1999, Wilson continued as First Secretary at the UK representation to the EU. He was head of the Strategic Policy Team at the FCO 2003–04; Political Counsellor at Islamabad 2005–06 and at Beijing 2007–10; and Director, Asia Pacific, at the FCO 2010–13. He was deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (with the rank of ambassador) 2013–17.[1]

In January 2017 the FCO announced Wilson's appointment as Ambassador to the Netherlands.[2] He took up the post when King Willem-Alexander received his credentials on 23 August 2017. On 30 August that same year he presented his credentials to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.[3] In January 2021 he was appointed Ambassador to Brazil.

On 8 March 2022 Wilson was announced as Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, filling the vacancy that had been left by Martin Reynolds' resignation earlier that year.[4] However, Wilson vacated the role after six months when Liz Truss became Prime Minister on 6 September 2022 and appointed Nick Catsaras as her new Principal Private Secretary.[5]

Personal life

Wilson is married and has three children.

Honours

Wilson was appointed CMG in the 2013 Birthday Honours "for services to strengthening British foreign policy in Asia".

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U254658 WILSON, Hon. Peter Michael Alexander
  2. Web site: Change of Ambassador to the Netherlands . Press release . Foreign & Commonwealth Office . 11 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. 12 August 2019. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  4. Web site: Peter Wilson appointed Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister . 2022-03-08 . GOV.UK . en.
  5. Web site: Dickson . Annabelle . Welcome to Trussworld: Meet the new-look team in 10 Downing Street . POLITICO . 8 September 2022 . POLITICO . 10 September 2022.