DAILY BULLETIN FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2003

31 Jan 2003 03:15 PM

- GCHQ GETS NEW DIRECTOR
- CHANGE OF AMBASSADOR TO THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM - MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS - FRIDAY 31 JANUARY
- MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS - MONDAY 03 JANUARY

GCHQ GETS NEW DIRECTOR

The next Director of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) will be David Pepper, an appointment today confirmed by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and approved by the Prime Minister. He will succeed the present Director, Sir Francis Richards, who has been appointed Governor of Gibraltar. David Pepper, who has spent the majority of his career in GCHQ, and who is currently responsible for the Agency's planning and financial management, will take up his new post in April 2003.

Jack Straw said:

"This is a vitally important job. David Pepper has wide experience in GCHQ and in Whitehall, and made a very important contribution to the Home Office during his time there. He is a fitting successor to Francis Richards, who has led the organisation so well over the last 5 years. He and the staff of GCHQ deserve the thanks of all of us for the tireless work they do to protect our national security."

Notes for Editors

1. David Pepper joined GCHQ in 1972, with a DPhil in Theoretical Physics from St John's College Oxford. Most of his early career has been spent on operational intelligence work. He was promoted to the GCHQ Board of Management as Director of Personnel in 1995. In 1998 he was seconded to the Home Office as Director of Corporate Development, where he gained valuable experience in corporate change management, IT services and accommodation, and in delivering large-scale PFI projects. These skills will be particularly useful as GCHQ's new accommodation programme progresses. David Pepper returned to GCHQ in 2000, becoming Director of Finance.

2. David Pepper is married with two sons, and his leisure interests include music, reading, walking and cooking.

CHANGE OF AMBASSADOR TO THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

Robert Gordon CMG, OBE has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Hanoi in succession to Warwick Morris who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service Appointment. Mr Gordon will take up his new appointment in September 2003.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Robert Gordon

Full Name: Robert Anthony Eagleson Gordon
Date of Birth: 9 February 1952
Marital Status: Married to Pamela
Children: Two daughters (1980,1981) & two sons (1985, 1988) Honours: CMG (1999), OBE (1983)

1999 - 2003 FCO (Head of South East Asia Department) 1995 - 1999 RANGOON (Ambassador)
1992 - 1995 WARSAW (Counsellor & Deputy Head of Mission) 1987 - 1992 PARIS - UKDel OECD (1st Secretary, Economic) 1985 - 1987 FCO (Desk Officer, European Community Department - External)
1983 - 1985 FCO (Desk Officer, South America Department) 1978 - 1983 CHILE (2nd later 1st Secretary, Chancery) 1975 - 1977 WARSAW (3rd later 2nd Secretary, Chancery) 1973 - 1974 FCO (Desk Officer, Central and Southern Africa Department)
1973 Entered FCO

MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS - FRIDAY 31 JANUARY

In addition to their regular official and Parliamentary duties, FCO Ministers have the following public engagements:

DR MACSHANE
Visit to Paris

BARONESS SYMONS
1000 Ian Rogers, UK Steel

1200 Brian Constant, Middle East Association

MR RAMMELL
1400 Adjournment Debate: Anti-Semitism in Arab World

MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS - MONDAY 03 JANUARY

In addition to their regular official and Parliamentary duties, FCO Ministers have the following public engagements:

DR MACSHANE
1500 Official launch of Poetry on the Underground, Westminster Station

1600 Mr Trubnikov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

BARONESS SYMONS
0930 Seyed Mustafa Kazimi, Afghan Commerce Minister

1130 Dr Supachai, Director-General, WTO

1600 Alison Tebbit, Westminster Be-friend a Family

BARONESS AMOS
1430 House of Lords Questions

MR O'BRIEN
Visit to Brussels

MR RAMMELL
1445 Emitai Lausiki Boladuadua, Fijian High Commissioner

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