Sir Arthur John Coles GCMG (born 13 November 1937) is a retired British diplomat. He served as the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Head of HM Diplomatic Service) from 1994 to 1997.[1][2]

Coles joined the FCO in 1960. After learning Arabic he was posted as Third Secretary in Sudan from 1962 until 1964.[3] He served as the Assistant Political Agent, Trucial States (Dubai) from 1968 to 1971 as the UAE was being established. He returned to London until being sent as Head of Chancery to the British Embassy in Egypt from 1975 to 1977.[3] He served as Ambassador to Jordan, High Commissioner to Australia before he returned to London as Deputy Under-Secretary of State from 1991 to 1994. In 1994 he was appointed Permanent Under-Secretary of State.

Offices held

Diplomatic posts Preceded byAlan Urwick British Ambassador to Jordan 1984-1988 Succeeded byPatrick Eyers Preceded bySir John Leahy British High Commissioner to Australia 1988-1991 Succeeded bySir Brian Barder Government offices Preceded byUnknown Deputy Under-Secretary of State, Asia and the Americas, of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1991-1994 Succeeded byUnknown Preceded bySir David Gillmore Permanent Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1994-1997 Succeeded bySir John Kerr

References

  1. ^ The Ditchley Foundation. "The Governors". Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  2. ^ Andrew Marshall (8 February 1997). "Irresistible rise of man with plan". The Independent. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  3. ^ a b BDOHP Biographical details and index Retrieved 9 March 2023

External links

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