Simon Collis is new UK envoy in Riyadh

Simon Paul Collis is the new British ambassador to the Kingdom. He replaces Sir John Jenkins who completed his tenure this year to retire from the diplomatic service.
Confirming the news, Salah Taha, press officer at the British Embassy, told Arab News on Monday: “The new ambassador has arrived.”
Collis joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK in 1978. He has studied Arabic and served mainly in the Middle East and South Asia. His first posting was to Bahrain.
Subsequently, he has been British ambassador to Iraq, Syria and Qatar.
He was British consul-general in Dubai and Basra.
According to the British Embassy, he has also served in Tunis, New Delhi and Amman.
Commenting on his latest assignment, the new British envoy said in a statement: “I am honored and delighted to be appointed as Her Majesty’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
“I look forward to working closely with the government of Saudi Arabia to build even stronger relations across the range of our already substantial shared interests,” Collis said.
He added that after serving in the Middle East for much of his diplomatic career he also looks forward to developing engagement on regional issues at a time of significant challenges.
“There is much we can achieve together to build prosperity, enhance security and tackle global issues,” he underlined.
Outgoing Ambassador Sir John Jenkins retired after 35 years of service and will take up the position of executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Bahrain.