Nick Baird

Chief Executive, UK Trade and Investment (UKT&I), formerly Director General, Europe and Globalisation and Member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Board, leading the FCO's work on Europe, global economic issues, migration and consular

Nick Baird was born in 1962.  He attended Dulwich College in London, then went to Cambridge University where he studied English literature.

He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1983 where he has specialised in European and economic work.  He was first posted to Kuwait in 1986. He was posted to the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels in 1989 as First Secretary dealing with the EU Budget.

Nick served in London from 1993-1997 first as Private Secretary to the Minister covering South Asia and the Americas, and then as Head of the Unit covering the EU Intergovernmental Conference.

He was posted to Muscat as Deputy Head of Mission and Economic Counsellor in 1997 and again to the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels as Counsellor leading on Justice and Home Affairs issues in 1998.

Nick returned to London as Head of the European Union Department (Internal Issues) in 2002.  In 2003 he was seconded to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the Home Office as the senior Director leading policy and international work.

In 2006 Nick Baird was appointed British Ambassador to Turkey where, among other things, he supported many British businesses engaging with this fast-growing market

He returned to the FCO as Director-General for Europe and Globalisation and a member of the FCO Board in September 2009.  In this role he focussed on strengthening commercial diplomacy in the FCO, building up our relationships with the big emerging powers and European policy.  From the beginning of 2011, his portfolio expanded to include both consular and migration issues.

He has been Chief Executive of UKTI since September 2011.

Nick is married to Caroline (a teacher) and they have three children.  In his spare time, Nick enjoys running, reading, the theatre, and travel.

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