Richard Montgomery appointed as UK new high commissioner to Nigeria with effect from April

BRITAIN'S government has announced the appointment of Dr Richard Montgomery as its  new high commissioner to Nigeria to succeed the current incumbent Catriona Laing with effect from next month.

Ms Laing, who has spent a little over four years in Nigeria will be transferring to another diplomatic service appointment. Dr Montgomery who is replacing her is not new to Nigeria as he had worked as a counsellor (development) and as the head of office in the Department For International Development (DFID), Nigeria, from 2009 to 2013.

Also, Dr Montgomery served as the World Bank group's UK executive director, Washington, from 2018 to 2022. Between 2015 and 2018, he worked with DFID as director, Asia, Caribbean & Overseas Territories Division and from 2013 to 2015, he served in Islamabad as the counsellor  and Head of Office, DFID Pakistan.

He was also DFID’s deputy director and head of corporate human resources, East Kilbride, from 2006 to 2009. Dr Montgomery also served as the DFID deputy team leader, Top Management Group from 2005 to 2006 and in Lusaka as the deputy head of DFID Zambia from 2002 to 2005.