The Cabinet Office has announced the appointment of Julian Braithwaite as its new director general for the European Union.
Until April, Braithwaite was ambassador and permanent representative to the UK Mission to the World Trade Organisation, United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva – a post he held for six years.
Before that, he was ambassador and permanent representative to the Political and Security Committee of the EU at UKRep in Brussels – now the United Kingdom Mission to the European Union, or UK Mis.
The Cabinet Office said cabinet secretary Simon Case had appointed Braithwaite to his new role with the approval of prime minister Boris Johnson.
“Julian will be responsible for advice to Lord Frost and the prime minister on EU issues, and for coordinating policy and engagement across Whitehall, working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other Whitehall departments,” it said.
In addition to supporting Frost and Johnson to ensure “effective conduct and coordination” of business with the EU and individual member states, Braithwaite is also now responsible for teams working to ensure the effective implementation of the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Withdrawal agreement – including the Northern Ireland protocol.
Other areas of responsibility include the major UK-EU committees established to manage the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and Withdrawal Agreement, including the Joint Committee and Partnership Council.
Braithwaite joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office – controversially merged with the Department for International Development to form the FCDO last year – in 1994.
His previous roles in government include a stint as FCO director of consular services from 2008-2011; four years as counsellor for global issues at the British Embassy in Washington DC; and a spell at No.10 as speech writer for the prime minister from 2000-2002, when Tony Blair was PM.
Simon Manley replaced Braithwaite as ambassador and permanent representative of the UK Mission to the WTO, UN and other organisations in Geneva.