Ian Whitting

Ian was born in 1953 and grew up in Chichester. He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1973. After posting in Moscow and Tunis he was Press Attaché in Athens from 1979 to 1983. He then served as a Political Officer in Moscow and headed the Embassy EU/Economic team in Dublin from 1990 to 1994. From 1994 to 1997 he was Deputy Head of Mission in Abidjan and returned to London as Deputy Head of Equatorial Africa Dept and Foreign Secretary's Special representative for the Great Lakes region. He then headed the European Union Bilateral Department from 2002 to 2003 before returning to Athens to cover EU issues and serve as Deputy Head of Mission until early 2008.

Ian is married to Tracy Gallagher, also a career diplomat. They have two daughters, Isobel and Olivia.