Christian Turner

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Christian Turner
CMG
Turner in 2020
British Ambassador to the United States
Designate
Assuming office
TBD
MonarchCharles III
Prime MinisterSir Keir Starmer
SucceedingPeter Mandelson
Political Director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
In office
January 2023 – September 2025
Prime MinisterRishi Sunak
Keir Starmer
Preceded byTim Barrow
British High Commissioner to Pakistan
In office
1 December 2019 – January 2023
Monarchs
Prime Minister
Preceded byThomas Drew
Deputy National Security Adviser and Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Affairs
In office
April 2017 – July 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byGeneral Sir Gwyn Jenkins (Deputy National Security Adviser for Conflict, Stability and Defence)
Succeeded bySir David Quarrey
British High Commissioner to Kenya
In office
2012–2015
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byRobert Macaire
Succeeded byNic Hailey
Personal details
BornChristian Philip Hollier Turner
NationalityBritish
Children2
Alma materUniversity of York (PhD)

Christian Philip Hollier Turner CMG is a British diplomat. In December 2025 it was announced that he would be the next British ambassador to the United States, following the dismissal of Peter Mandelson.[1][2]

He previously served as Political Director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from January 2023 to September 2025 and is a Visiting Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.[3] He was the British High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2019 to 2023, and was expected to take up the role of British ambassador to the United Nations in 2025, before his appointment to Washington was announced.[4][5][6]

Career

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After completing his PhD in Medieval Studies at the University of York and making historical television documentaries, Turner joined the Cabinet Office in 1997. He held positions in Private Office, the Economic and Domestic Secretariat and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.

Turner joined the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2005 whilst First Secretary at the British Embassy Washington, DC. On his return to London he served as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007; as Director Middle East and North Africa, 2009–2012 during the Arab Spring.[7][8]

Turner served as High Commissioner to Kenya from 2012 to 2015.[9][10] During his time in Kenya he led the UK response to the Westgate Mall terrorist attack[11] and the UK's reconciliation with the MauMau.[12][13]

On his return to the UK in 2016 Turner led the London Syria Conference for No 10, raising $12 billion for Syrian refugees.[14] In 2016 he became Director General for the Middle East and Africa and then acting Political Director General. From 2017 to 2019 he served as Prime Minister Theresa May's international affairs advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor.[15] In this role he was also senior responsible owner for the £1.25bn Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.[16]

Turner served as High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2019 to 2023[17] before becoming Political Director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. In May 2025 it was announced that he would succeed Dame Barbara Woodward as British ambassador to the United Nations.[18] Subsequently it was revealed that he was also under consideration for nomination as Britain's ambassador to the United States following the dismissal of Peter Mandelson,[19] and in December 2025 he was appointed to that role.[1]

Honours

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Turner was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2012 New Year Honours.[20] Turner was made a Freeman of the City of London in 2019.

Personal life

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Turner is married with two children.

References

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  1. ^ a b The Guardian, "Starmer appoints career diplomat Christian Turner as US ambassador", 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. ^ UK Government, "Dr Christian Turner CMG appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America ", 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Christian Turner | Blavatnik School of Government". www.bsg.ox.ac.uk. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Search Results for Christian Turner". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Change of British High Commissioner to Pakistan: Dr Christian Turner CMG". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Dr Christian Turner CMG". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Dr Christian Turner CMG". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. ^ "British foreign policy and the 'Arab Spring': the transition to democracy (8th December 2011)". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Change of British High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. ^ ""Life as high commissioner to Kenya has been exciting, rewarding and never dull – it is exactly why I joined public service": diplomat Christian Tu..." Civil Service World. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ^ Nation Breaking News [@NationBreaking] (22 September 2013). "British High Commissioner to Kenya Dr Christian Turner donates blood at #Kencom #WeAreOne #Westgate" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Mau Mau torture victims to receive compensation – Hague". BBC News. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Kenya Mau Mau memorial funded by UK unveiled". BBC News. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  14. ^ "About". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  15. ^ Turner, Christian [@CTurnerFCDO] (13 April 2017). "A busy first week as Deputy National Security Adviser; farewell to @LyallGrant looking forward to working with @marksedwill" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ CSSF Annual Report 2018/2019 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818585/CSSF-Annual-Report-2018-to-2019.pdf
  17. ^ "Change of British High Commissioner to Pakistan: Dr Christian Turner CMG". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Dr Christian Turner CMG". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  19. ^ The Guardian, "Starmer to pick new US ambassador as relations with Trump tested", 13 December 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  20. ^ 2012 New Years Honours List The London Gazette https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60009/supplement/1
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