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Last updated at 17:53 (UK time) 31 Aug 2011

Simon Fraser, CMG

Permanent Under Secretary of State

The Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service is the senior foreign policy adviser to the Foreign Secretary, and responsible for the management of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and our Embassies and High Commissions around the world.

Simon Fraser was appointed to this role in August 2010.  He is a career diplomat and his previous appointment was as Permanent Secretary in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in London. 

Simon has specialised in Europe, international economic policy and the Middle East.  In 2008/9 he was Director General for Europe and Globalisation in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

From 2004 to February 2008, Simon served as Chief of Staff to European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.  Simon also previously worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to Leon Brittan when he was Trade Commissioner.

Simon’s earlier positions in the FCO include Director for Strategy and Innovation, including policy planning, and Political Counsellor in the British Embassy in Paris.  He started his career as a Middle East expert, serving in the British Embassies in Baghdad and Damascus, and as Private Secretary to Minister of State William Waldegrave.
 
Simon is married to Shireen Fraser and has two daughters.