NEW GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BRITISH TRADE INTERNATIONAL

7 Aug 2002 04:09 PM

The Prime Minister, with the agreement of the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has approved the appointment of Sir Stephen Brown KCVO to succeed Sir David Wright GCMG, LVO as Group Chief Executive of British Trade International, who is retiring. Sir Stephen Brown has been recruited via an open competition. He is currently High Commissioner to Singapore.

Sir Stephen said of his appointment: "It is a great challenge and a big responsibility. But I intend to enjoy both. With the support of BTI staff, and the full backing of the FCO and DTI, we will together move BTI on to its next exciting phase. The needs of British business must drive our agenda at all times. I pay a warm tribute to David Wright and all BTI staff for creating the organisation we have today."

Sir David Wright said: "I am delighted that my successor is to be someone with extensive experience of trade and investment promotion overseas. Stephen Brown will bring to the role the important combination of his personal energy and his commitment to developing the UK's overseas commercial interests to the full."

Biographical Details

Sir Stephen entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in 1964 and was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1965. After 12 years of army service, including two operational tours, he joined the Diplomatic Service.

He initially served in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London dealing with arms control and disarmament issues. He then served in Nicosia as First Secretary Political (1977-80) and Paris as First Secretary Commercial (1980-85). He returned to the FCO from 1985-89. In 1989 he was attached to the Department of Trade and Industry to work on a comprehensive review of export promotion policy. Later that year, he went to Melbourne as British Consul-General. In 1994, he was posted to Beijing as Director of Trade Promotion in China.

In 1997, he was appointed British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. He was awarded a KCVO following the visit of HM The Queen to Korea in April 1999. His appointment at Seoul ended in August 2000, after which he was part of a team that negotiated the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

He became British High Commissioner to Singapore in March 2001.

Sir Stephen is 56 years old. He was born in Leeds and was educated at Leeds Grammar School. He is married with two children.

Notes to Editors

British Trade International is the government body set up to support UK companies trading internationally and to encourage foreign investment. BTI provides support to business through its two operating arms, Trade Partners UK, which helps UK companies trading overseas and Invest UK, which aims to promote the UK as an inward investment location.

The Group Chief Executive of British Trade International reports to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Foreign Secretary, and to the Board of British Trade International, chaired by the Minister of State for International Trade and Investment. The majority of the Board's members are from business and bring with them wide experience of international trade.

For further information on British Trade International contact Alasdair Crewe on 020 7215 8196.