Hickey to take up his appointment in Rome this summer.
Stephen Hickey has been appointed as Britain’s new ambassador to Italy and San Marino, in succession to Ed Llewellyn, the foreign office announced on Thursday.
Hickey, who will take up his appointment as ambassador to Italy in June, comes to Rome after serving as Foreign, Commonwealth & Development (FCDO) Director for Middle East and North Africa, a position he held from 2022 until last month.
He was British ambassador to Iraq from 2019 to 2021, and before that he was the ambassador and political co-ordinator in the UK Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Hickey joined the FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) in 2001 as a desk officer in the South East Asian department, nad has previously served as deputy Head of Mission to Egypt and to Syria.
An Arabic speaker, Hickey has made the Middle East a focus of his career, according to the UK government website.
The previous British ambassdor to Italy, Lord Llewellyn, served in Rome from 2022 until last December when he transferred to a new appointment as FCDO Political Director and Director General Political.
During his tenure in Rome, Llewellyn hosted a landmark four-day visit by King Charles during which the British monarch made a historic address in the Italian parliament.
David Burton, the charge d’affaires ad interim to Italy and San Marino at the British embassy in Rome, will be in charge until the arrival of Ambassador Hickey this summer.
