Peter Ricketts

Lord Ricketts was a British diplomat for 40 years. In the final stage of his career, he served as Britain’s first National Security Adviser from 2010 to 2012. In that capacity he established the National Security Council, and oversaw the 2010 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. He was Ambassador to France from 2012 to 2016. Earlier in his public service, he specialized in security and crisis management issues. He served twice in the UK Delegation to NATO, in the 1970s and again as Permanent Representative from 2003 to 2006. He was Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, and Political Director in the Foreign Office from 2001 to 2003, dealing with policy on the Afghanistan and Iraq interventions, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After retirement, he became a cross-bench member of the House of Lords (non-political) and divides his time between business activities, including the non-executive directorship of Engie and Getlink/Eurotunnel, and public policy work in the Lords and as Visiting Professor in the War Studies Department of King’s College London.