Introduction
Sir Mark Justin Lyall Grant KCMG (born 29 May 1956) is a senior British diplomat who since 7 September 2015 is the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, and used to be Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations.
Background
Lyall Grant was educated at Eton College and read law at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at Middle Temple, London before deciding to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1980.
His wife, Sheila, is also a diplomat. In April 2012, Lady Lyall Grant, with Huberta von Voss Wittig, made a video appeal to Asma al-Assad, calling on the Syrian first lady to take a stand against violence in her country. The Lyall Grants have a son and a daughter. Lyall Grant enjoys in his spare time a spot of golf, tennis, or bridge.
Diplomatic career
Lyall Grant was British Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) from 2009 to 2015. He held the office of President of the United Nations Security Council four times, during the months of November 2010, March 2012, June 2013, and August 2014.
Lyall Grant was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 31 December 2002 and a Knight Commander of the same order (KCMG) on 17 June 2006.
On 7 July 2015, Number 10 announced that Sir Mark would replace Sir Kim Darroch as the United Kingdom's National Security Advisor on 7 September 2015, with Darroch moving to a different diplomatic post. As of September 2015, Lyall Grant was paid a salary of between £160,000 and £164,999, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office career timeline
- 2015–present National Security Adviser
- 2009–15 British Permanent Representative to the United Nations
- 2007–09 FCO, Director General for Political Affairs
- 2003–06 High Commissioner to Pakistan
- 2000–03 FCO director, Africa
- 1998–2000 Head, European Union department, FCO
- 1996–98 Deputy High Commissioner and Consul General, South Africa
- 1994–96 Seconded to European Secretariat, Cabinet Office
- 1990–93 First Secretary, Paris
- 1987–89 Private Secretary to Minister of State, FCO
- 1985–87 FCO
- 1982–85 Second Secretary, Islamabad
- 1980–82 FCO, worked in Southern Africa department
Offices held
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John Sawers | Director-General, Political of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2007–2009 | Succeeded by Sir Geoffrey Adams |
| Preceded by Sir Kim Darroch | National Security Advisor 7 September 2015– | Succeeded by incumbent |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Sir John Sawers | United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations 2009–2015 | Succeeded by Matthew Rycroft |