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Monday, Jun 02, 2025
Outside the box.
Oliver Robbins Appointed as the UK's Senior Foreign Office Civil Servant
Former Brexit negotiator brings extensive expertise to his new role amid global challenges and domestic transitions.
Oliver Robbins, the former Brexit negotiator, has been appointed as the United Kingdom's most senior civil servant at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), succeeding Sir Philip Barton.
Robbins, who previously departed the civil service in 2019, brings a wealth of experience in international affairs and national security, which will be crucial as he navigates a complex global landscape marked by shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Robbins's appointment follows his consideration last year for the position of cabinet secretary, a role he ultimately did not secure.
Despite this, Robbins remained a favored candidate for the FCDO's permanent undersecretary by David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Upon confirming Robbins's new role, Lammy stated, “I have set out from day one that I want to rewire the FCDO to act as the international delivery arm of this government’s missions, as well as devising our broader international strategy.
Olly Robbins is exactly the person to help me deliver this and I am delighted to welcome him into the FCDO.”
Lammy praised Robbins's extensive background in economic and security issues, which he accumulated across various Whitehall departments.
This depth of experience is expected to aid in reorienting the FCDO's focus towards growth and migration while maintaining an emphasis on national security.
A Whitehall insider commented on Robbins's capabilities, noting, “Olly has a lot of experience – from Europe, to national security and economic security.
He is one of the few people who will know how good the FCDO can be – and he will get it back to that.”
Barton, Robbins's predecessor, announced his decision to step down after five years in the role, a tenure in which he served under five foreign secretaries and managed the political transition to a Labour government.
However, Barton faced scrutiny in 2022 for the chaotic withdrawal of UK staff from Kabul following the Taliban's takeover and oversaw the significant 2020 merger of the Foreign Office with the Department for International Development.
Prior to his appointment, Robbins was a partner at Hakluyt, a consultancy formed by former MI6 officers, and had not been previously linked to the FCDO role.
Despite not having taken on the cabinet secretary position, Robbins was seen as a preferred choice by Sue Gray, former chief of staff to Labour leader Keir Starmer, though his association with Brexit negotiations was seen as potentially controversial in some quarters.
Reflecting on his new role, Robbins stated, “I’ve seen our extraordinary diplomatic and development capabilities first-hand from Washington DC to Mogadishu, Dublin to Sana’a, and Abuja to New Delhi.
After five years out of the civil service, I return believing more strongly than ever in the value of those capabilities and the public service principles that underpin them, while convinced that maintaining the UK’s lead depends critically on understanding and co-opting the pace of change evident in the UK and around the world.”
Robbins began his distinguished career in the civil service as a fast-streamer in 1996, initially serving a decade in the Treasury.
He later held pivotal roles, including as principal private secretary to Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, deputy national security adviser, and head of civil service reform.
In the years following, Robbins contributed significantly to immigration policy and the Brexit negotiations, developing a reputation for his rigorous approach to complex challenges.
Robbins, who previously departed the civil service in 2019, brings a wealth of experience in international affairs and national security, which will be crucial as he navigates a complex global landscape marked by shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Robbins's appointment follows his consideration last year for the position of cabinet secretary, a role he ultimately did not secure.
Despite this, Robbins remained a favored candidate for the FCDO's permanent undersecretary by David Lammy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Upon confirming Robbins's new role, Lammy stated, “I have set out from day one that I want to rewire the FCDO to act as the international delivery arm of this government’s missions, as well as devising our broader international strategy.
Olly Robbins is exactly the person to help me deliver this and I am delighted to welcome him into the FCDO.”
Lammy praised Robbins's extensive background in economic and security issues, which he accumulated across various Whitehall departments.
This depth of experience is expected to aid in reorienting the FCDO's focus towards growth and migration while maintaining an emphasis on national security.
A Whitehall insider commented on Robbins's capabilities, noting, “Olly has a lot of experience – from Europe, to national security and economic security.
He is one of the few people who will know how good the FCDO can be – and he will get it back to that.”
Barton, Robbins's predecessor, announced his decision to step down after five years in the role, a tenure in which he served under five foreign secretaries and managed the political transition to a Labour government.
However, Barton faced scrutiny in 2022 for the chaotic withdrawal of UK staff from Kabul following the Taliban's takeover and oversaw the significant 2020 merger of the Foreign Office with the Department for International Development.
Prior to his appointment, Robbins was a partner at Hakluyt, a consultancy formed by former MI6 officers, and had not been previously linked to the FCDO role.
Despite not having taken on the cabinet secretary position, Robbins was seen as a preferred choice by Sue Gray, former chief of staff to Labour leader Keir Starmer, though his association with Brexit negotiations was seen as potentially controversial in some quarters.
Reflecting on his new role, Robbins stated, “I’ve seen our extraordinary diplomatic and development capabilities first-hand from Washington DC to Mogadishu, Dublin to Sana’a, and Abuja to New Delhi.
After five years out of the civil service, I return believing more strongly than ever in the value of those capabilities and the public service principles that underpin them, while convinced that maintaining the UK’s lead depends critically on understanding and co-opting the pace of change evident in the UK and around the world.”
Robbins began his distinguished career in the civil service as a fast-streamer in 1996, initially serving a decade in the Treasury.
He later held pivotal roles, including as principal private secretary to Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, deputy national security adviser, and head of civil service reform.
In the years following, Robbins contributed significantly to immigration policy and the Brexit negotiations, developing a reputation for his rigorous approach to complex challenges.
