Recently, Dr. Richard Montgomery CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer, British High Commission, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, who also confirmed that the credentials of the new British High Commissioner has also been presented to the President at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
Montgomery is to take over from Ms Catriona Laing CB who recently concluded four years as High Commissioner in Abuja.
It was also noted that Richard is an experienced diplomat who had worked in different parts of the world including Nigeria in previous time
Prior to becoming the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard was the UK Executive Director at the World Bank Group Board from 2018 to 2022 in Washington DC, USA.
He also has held various senior positions in the Department of International Development (DFID) which includes Director for Asia, Caribbean & Overseas Territories Division, Country Director for Pakistan, and prior to that Country Director in Nigeria from 2009 to 2013.
Before these operational roles, Richard was Deputy Director for Corporate Human Resources and Deputy Head in DFID’s Top Management Group.
Earlier in his career, he did postings in British High Commissions in Zambia, Bangladesh and India.
Montgomery in his statement expressed, “It’s great to be back in Nigeria.
“I look forward to working with the people of this great country, including those in government, in the private sector and in civil society, to do all I can to help build a more prosperous Nigeria and strengthen the partnership between our countries.”