Peter Ricketts joined the FCO in 1974 and had early postings to Singapore and Brussels.

In the early 1980s he was an Assistant Private Secretary to former Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, followed by four years in Washington, before he returned to the FCO to work on Security Policy. He was Head of the Hong Kong Department in the early period of Chris Patten’s governorship.

He then spent two years in Paris, followed by a spell in London as Deputy Political Director, dealing particularly with the Balkans. He was appointed Director International Security before being seconded to the Cabinet Office as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee. He returned to the FCO as Political Director.

From July 2003 he was UK Permanent Representative to NATO in Brussels and succeeded Michael Jay as PUS at the end of July 2006.

Peter was born in 1952 and read English at Pembroke College, Oxford. He is married to Suzanne and they have a son and daughter.