UK appoints new ambassador to the US

Dame Karen Pierce has been appointed as the UK 's ambassador to the United States.

One of the UK 's most experienced senior diplomats, Dame Karen is the first woman to serve as Britain 's ambassador in Washington.

She had previous been serving as ambassador to the United Nations in New York and Permanent Representative at the UN Security Council.

The appointment was made on recommendation from Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who said: “It is a time of huge opportunity for the friendship between the UK and US and I am delighted that Karen Pierce will take forward this exciting new chapter in our relationship.

“We 're proud to be sending to Washington such an outstanding diplomat, and I warmly congratulate her on her appointment. ”

Karen Pierce (pictured) said: “I am honoured to have been asked to represent the UK in the US. I think it is the UK 's single most important relationship.

“There is a deep bond between Britain and the US, built on many pillars.

“We have a fantastic cross-government team across the US and I look forward to working with them to strengthen and even further deepen the special relationship between our 2 countries and peoples. ”

Dame Karen has been the UK 's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York since March 2018.

Prior to this role, she was director general for Political Affairs and chief operating officer of the Foreign and Commonwealth in London, from 2016.

Dame Karen joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1981 and her first role was in Tokyo between 1984 and 1987, after which she returned to the UK to work in the Security Policy Department.

Karen worked in Washington as the Private Secretary to the British Ambassador to the United States between 1992 and 1995.

She has held a number of other important roles including Team Leader for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, deputy head of Eastern Adriatic (Balkans) Department, head of Newsroom, head of EU Department (Bilateral) and concurrently Head of Afghanistan Political Military Unit after 9/11.

Picture courtesy of 2.0 Generic