Nigel Sheinwald joined the Diplomatic Service in 1976 and has served in Brussels (twice), Washington and Moscow and in a wide range of policy jobs in London.  He took up his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States in October 2007. For the previous four years he served as Foreign Policy and Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister and Head of the Cabinet Office Defence and Overseas Secretariat.

Nigel served in Moscow (1978-9) and was Head of the FCO Anglo-Soviet Section (1981-3).  From 1983-7 he worked in the Political Section of the British Embassy in Washington.  From 1987-9 he was Deputy Head of the FCOs Policy Planning Staff, responsible for transatlantic relations and other issues.  Nigel Sheinwald has also worked on Japan (1976-7) and Zimbabwe (1979-81), including the Lancaster House Conference.

He was FCO Press Secretary and Head of News Department from 1995-8.

Nigel Sheinwald was the UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels from 2000-2003.  Before that he was Europe Director in the FCO (1998-2000).  He was Head of the UK Representations Political and Institutional Section in Brussels in 1993-5 and Deputy Head of the FCOs European Union (Internal) Department from 1989-92.

Nigel Sheinwald was born in 1953 and educated at Harrow County Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford.  He is married, with three sons.

Meet the British Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Dominick Chilcott