Simon Gass
Sir Simon Lawrance Gass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director General, Political, Foreign & Commonwealth Office | |
| In office January 2013 – 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Sedwill |
| Succeeded by | Karen Pierce |
| NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan | |
| In office 2011–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Sedwill |
| Succeeded by | Maurits Jochems |
| British Ambassador to Iran | |
| In office 2009–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Geoffrey Adams |
| Succeeded by | Dominick Chilcott |
| British Ambassador to Greece | |
| In office 2004–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Sir David Madden |
| Succeeded by | David Landsman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 November 1956 |
| Spouse | Marianne Enid Stott (1980–present) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Reading |
Sir Simon Lawrance Gass KCMG CVO (born 2 November 1956) is a former British diplomat who was Director General, Political, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
Ambassador to Iran
He was British Ambassador to Iran 2009–11. He arrived in post during the Spring of 2009 from his previous posting in Greece and was present during the June 2009 protests following the disputed re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
Following these events Gass posted his views from Tehran on the social networking site Twitter, commenting on the Iranian regime's record on human rights, political prisoners and freedom of speech. His 'tweets' are shared widely by Iranian reformists and diaspora across the web as well as being featured in mainstream media.[1] In January 2011, Gass passed the 1000 follower mark, making him one of the most followed diplomats on Twitter.
In December 2010, Gass' digital activities caused mild uproar among Iranian politicians, who called for his expulsion after he highlighted the case of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in an article posted on the British Embassy in Iran website. The statement was released on International Human Rights Day and criticised Iran's human rights record.[2] The Foreign and Commonwealth Office defended Gass' comments, which gained widespread approval from his Iranian reformist followers on Twitter.
Already Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG), he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 2011 New Year Honours.[3]
NATO and FCO
In February 2011 Gass was seconded to NATO as Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.[4] After serving in this post for 18 months he returned to the FCO in London as Director General, Political, and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.[5] He retired from the FCO in 2016.
Career
- 1977 – Joined the FCO
- 1979–83 – Lagos
- 1984–87 – Athens
- 1987–90 – FCO in London
- 1990–92 – Assistant Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary, London
- 1992–95 – Rome
- 1995–98 – Counsellor, FCO
- 1998–01 – Deputy High Commissioner South Africa
- 2001–04 – Director, Resources, then Finance, FCO
- 2004–09 – Ambassador to Greece
- 2009–11 – Ambassador to Iran
- 2011–12 – NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan
- 2013–16 – Political Director, FCO, and Prime Minister's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
References
- ^ Britain's Ambassador sends angry Tweet ..., Metro Online, 13 August 2010
- ^ Iranian politicians call for UK ambassador recall, BBC News, 13 December 2010
- ^ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 3.
- ^ NATO Secretary General appoints new Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, 9 February 2011
- ^ Simon Gass, gov.uk
External links
- British Embassy in Tehran
- UK in Iran Facebook Page
- Article by Simon Gass: International Human Rights Day, British Embassy Tehran, 10 December 2010, via archive.org