Asif Ahmad

Asif Ahmad, CMG (Bengali: আসিফ আনোয়ার আহমেদ; born 21 January, 1956, banker turned diplomat, serving as the British High Commissioner to Jamaica, formerly as British Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. He was also accredited to the Bahamas, Palau and Laos. He was the British Ambassador to Thailand from November 2010 until August 2012.[1] He was British Ambassador to the Philippines from July 2013.[2]

Asif Ahmad CMG
British High Commissioner to Jamaica
Incumbent
Assumed office 2017
Preceded by	David Fitton CMG
16th List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Jamaica
Incumbent
Assumed office 2017
Preceded by	David Fitton CMG
20th [[List of Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Laos]]
In office 2010–2012
Preceded by	Quinton Quayle
Succeeded by	Philip Malone
20th [[List of Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Thailand]]
In office 2010–2012
Preceded by	Quinton Quayle
Succeeded by	Mark Kent
Personal details
Born	21 January 1956 London, England
Nationality	British
Residence	London, England
Alma mater	St Cuthbert's Society, Durham University
Profession	Diplomat

Early life

Ahmad was born on 21 January 1956 in London, England. He is the son of the late Salahuddin Ahmad, a Pakistani and later Bangladeshi diplomat and Bandana Ahmad, an expert in social services in the UK. He was educated at the Community High School, Tehran and then Carlisle Technical College. He studied economics at St Cuthbert's Society, Durham University, graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Later, he attended INSEAD and completed its International Executive Program in 1991.[3]

Career

He joined National Westminster Bank, where he stayed until 1996, during which time he studied at INSEAD. His banking career included roles in International Banking, oversight of Coutts & Co and as Senior Manager of a network of high street branches centred at County Hall, London. He joined Business Link London in 1996, as a Personal Business Adviser, transferring to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 1999. After a period in the FCO's Resource and Budgeting Department he was appointed to the Senior Civil Service and served as Head of the Commonwealth Department.[1]

In 2003, Ahmad was seconded to the Prime Minister's Office where he served as Head of the Communication and Information Centre for a period, and then to UK Trade and Investment where he was Director, Asia from 2004 until 2008. He returned to FCO policy work as Head of the South East Asia and Pacific Department, dealing with issues relating to ASEAN countries, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. For a short period in 2009, he ran the British Embassy in Rangoon.[2]

In 2010, Ahmad was appointed as Her Majesty's Ambassador to Thailand and Laos. Apart from the UK, he has lived in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Japan, China, Poland, Thailand, Philippines and Jamaica.[1][2]

Awards and recognition

In January 2014, Ahmad was nominated for the Civil Servant of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.[4]

In 2017, Ahmad was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2017 Birthday Honours.[5]

Honours

Key to the City

• Cebu, Philippines (12 March 2015)[6]

References

1. A & C Black (2012). "Ahmad, Asif Anwar". Whoswho 2012, online edition. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
2. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "Announcement". FCO website. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
3. "AHMAD, Asif Anwar". Who's Who 2015. A & C Black. October 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
4. "British Muslim Awards 2014 winners". Asian Image. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
5. "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B10.