Tim Hitchens

Sir Timothy Mark Hitchens, KCVO, CMG (born 1962) is a British diplomat and a former Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, 1999–2002.

Sir Tim Hitchens KCVO CMG
President of Wolfson College, Oxford
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 May 2018
Preceded by	Hermione Lee
British Ambassador to Japan
In office 2012–2016
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron Theresa May
Preceded by	David Warren
Succeeded by	Paul Madden
Assistant Private Secretary to the Sovereign
In office 1999–2002
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Mary Francis
Succeeded by	Sir Christopher Geidt
Personal details
Born	Timothy Mark Hitchens 1962 (age 57–58) London, England
Alma mater	Dulwich College University of Cambridge

In Tokyo Imperial Palace

Hitchens was seconded from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to which he returned to become Head of the Africa Department (Equatorial).[1][2] He had been First Secretary Political and Information, British High Commission, Islamabad and speechwriter for Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd.

Early life and career

Hitchens was born in 1962, and was educated at Dulwich College from 1972 to 1979.[3] He then attended Christ's College, University of Cambridge, where he read English literature.[4] After joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office he studied Japanese, and then became Trade Secretary in Tokyo.

Career

Hitchens was Private Secretary to The Rt Hon Tristan Garel-Jones, Minister of State for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1990 to 1993, and speechwriter to the Foreign Secretary The Rt Hon Douglas Hurd from 1993 to 1994. He was Head of the Political Section at the British Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, 1994 to 1997.

From 2005 to 2008 Hitchens was Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in Paris.[5]

From autumn 2008, Hitchens took up the position Director, European Political Affairs, in London.[6][7] In August 2010 he became Director Africa.

In 2012, Hitchens was appointed as HM Ambassador to Japan.[8] He opened a Twitter account under the handle 'UKAmbTim' and, as of May 17, 2015, had over 7000 followers.[9] He often tweets in Japanese. Hitchens was succeeded by Paul Madden in January 2017.[10]

Hitchens was appointed chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Summit 2018 in March 2017.[4]

In January 2017, Hitchens was elected President of Wolfson College, Oxford.[11] He assumed this post on 1 May 2018.

Honours

Hitchens was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2012 New Year Honours.[12]

Personal life

Hitchens has one daughter (born 1991) and one son (born 1993).

References

1. Amaize, Emma (29 October 2004). "British Govt Intervenes in Niger Delta Troubles". Vanguard. Nigeria: Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
2. "The following announcement is issued by the Press Secretary to the Queen". M2 Presswire. 24 July 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
3. "Alleyn Club Yearbook" (PDF). Dulwich College. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
4. "Chief Executive, Commonwealth Summit Unit: Tim Hitchens –Biography". GOV.UK. UK: Government Digital Service. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
5. "Tim Hitchens". GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
6. Danas (11 May 2009). "Decision on EU candidacy bid "soon"". B92. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
7. EFE (16 October 2009). "El Foro de Diálogo sobre Gibraltar fija un calendario con objetivos prioritarios". Soitu (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
8. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Japan". Government of the United Kingdom. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
9. "Tim Hitchens (@UKAmbTim) – Twitter".
10. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Japan". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
11. "Wolfson College, Oxford". Retrieved 23 March 2018.
12. "No. 60009". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2011. p. 3.

Sources

• British ambassador laments his two ‘lost decades’ The Japan Times, 9 April 2013

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sir David Warren	British Ambassador to Japan 2012–2016	Succeeded by Paul Madden
Academic offices
Preceded by Philomen Probert (acting)	President of Wolfson College, Oxford 2018–present	Succeeded by Incumbent