Sebastian Wood

Sir James Sebastian Lamin Wood, KCMG (Chinese: 吳思田; pinyin: Wú Sītián; born 6 April 1961), usually known by his middle name Sebastian, is a British diplomat who was the Ambassador to China from 2010 to 2015,[1] and since September 2015 has been the Ambassador to Germany.

His Excellency

Sir Sebastian Wood

KCMG
British Ambassador to Germany
Assumed office
21 September 2015
MonarchElizabeth II
PresidentGauck, Steinmeier
Prime MinisterCameron, May, Johnson
ChancellorAngela Merkel
Preceded bySir Simon McDonald
British Ambassador to China
In office
2010–2015
MonarchElizabeth II
PresidentHu, Xi
Prime MinisterBrown, Cameron
Preceded bySir William Ehrman
Succeeded byDame Barbara Woodward
Personal details
Born (1961-04-06) 6 April 1961
London, England
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Sirinat Wood
Children4
ResidenceBerlin, Germany
EducationEmanuel School
Alma materMagdalen College, Oxford
OccupationDiplomat

Career

Wood was educated at Emanuel School in London, then studied mathematics and philosophy at Magdalen College, Oxford, before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1983. He was posted to the British Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand; then was appointed as a First Secretary to the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group working on the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong.[2]

In 2002, while posted as a Counsellor at the British Embassy in Washington DC, he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).[3]

Ambassador to China

In 2010, he was granted his first ambassadorship as British Ambassador to China.[4] He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to British prosperity and British interests in China.[5]

Ambassador to Germany

In July 2015 the FCO announced that Wood was to become British Ambassador to Germany in September 2015.[6] He took six months to learn German[7] before taking up his post in Berlin on 21 September.[8]

In July 2020 it was announced that he would retire from the Diplomatic Service in November, and be succeeded by Jill Gallard as Ambassador to Germany.[9]

Personal life

Wood is married to Sirinat Wood, a Thai,[7] and has one son and three daughters.[6]

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References
  1. HE Mr Sebastian Wood, CMG, Debrett's, 2010
  2. British Ambassador to China: Sebastian Wood, Government of the United Kingdom.
  3. "No. 56735". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 October 2002. p. 9.
  4. Sebastian Wood new UK ambassador to China, China Daily, 27 January 2010.
  5. "No. 60895". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2014. p. b4.
  6. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Germany". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. Samrai, Yasmin (21 September 2018). "Diplomacy is a '24 hour rolling news cycle,' says UK Ambassador to Germany". The Local. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. "Sir Sebastian Wood wird neuer britischer Botschafter in Berlin" [Sir Sebastian Wood becomes new British ambassador in Berlin]. Berliner Morgenpost (in German). 19 September 2015.
  9. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Germany: November 2020" (Press release). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Sir William Ehrman		 British Ambassador to China
2010–2015		 Succeeded by
Dame Barbara Woodward
Preceded by
Sir Simon McDonald		 British Ambassador to Germany
2015–present		 Incumbent
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