PETALING JAYA: Former envoy to Iran and Qatar Ajay Sharma CMG has been appointed the new British High Commissioner to Malaysia.
Sharma will succeed Ailsa Terry CMG, who has been the High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2023 to 2024.
“This is Mr Sharma’s fourth head of mission role. He was the UK Chargé d’affaires to Iran from 2013 to 2015, the British Ambassador to Qatar 2015-2020 and Chargé d’affaires to Turkey 2022-2023.
“Mr Sharma has also served in Moscow and in Paris as the Deputy Ambassador to France,” the High Commission said on Wednesday (April 9) in a statement.
Before this, Sharma was a director of international affairs in the National Security Secretariat of the Cabinet Office and a director in the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office.
“During his 30-year career as a diplomat, Mr Sharma has been involved in several international negotiations, including as the UK Representative for a Cyprus Settlement 2021-2022 and as the Deputy Negotiator for the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA),” it added.
Sharma was born in London, United Kingdom and is a graduate of Oxford University. He is fluent in French and Turkish and is currently learning Bahasa Melayu.
Sharma and his family will arrive in Malaysia in the next few weeks to commence his appointment.
David Wallace is the acting High Commissioner until Sharma arrives, the High Commission said.
On Aug 9 last year, Terry was appointed as the private secretary (foreign affairs) to the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
She will take charge of advising the PM on foreign policy issues and working closely with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
This is the first time that a British High Commissioner here has been picked for such a post.
