Tom Drew Appointed UK Ambassador to France

Trinity alumnus Sir Thomas (Tom) Drew KCMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to France, in succession to Dame Menna Rawlings.  He will take up his appointment in August.

Tom joined Trinity as a undergraduate in 1989 and earned a first-class degree in Classics.  He has since had a distinguished career in foreign policy, most recently as Director General for Defence and Intelligence at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), where, among other things, he led the FCDO’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  Prior to that he was High Commissioner to Pakistan.  Previous appointments include serving as Principal Private Secretary (Chief of Staff) to Foreign Secretaries William Hague and Philip Hammond and roles in counter-terrorism and security.  He was knighted in the King’s 2024 New Year Honours, being appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG) for services to British foreign policy and national security.

In the months leading up to his appointment, Tom has been an associate member of Trinity’s SCR and has used the college as a base from which to meet experts around Oxford in preparation for his new role.  He has returned to Trinity at the beginning of the last two academic years to be a facilitator and speaker at the personal development course for the incoming second year undergraduates; he has also given talks to various student groups. 

Commenting on his appointment, Tom wrote: ‘I feel very privileged to be appointed His Majesty's Ambassador to France—such a critical partner for the UK at this time of global change and a country I first lived in over 45 years ago.’