Richard Hugh Montgomery has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s new High Commissioner to Nigeria.
He succeeds Catriona Laing, who has served as the country’s high commissioner since 2018.
The United Kingdom government announced his appointment in a statement on Tuesday.
Montgomery is expected to begin his new role in April 2023.
According to the statement, Laing will be transferred to another diplomatic service appointment.
The high commissioner is the UK government’s representative in a Commonwealth nation.
They are responsible for the direction and work of the consulate, including political relations, trade, investment, press and cultural relations as well as visa and consular services.
Montgomery served as the counsellor (development) and Head of Office, Department for International Development, DFID, Abuja, from 2009-2013.
He holds a PhD in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge, alongside other research-related qualifications from GKW Consult Mannheim and Manchester University.
The diplomat was, most recently the UK Executive Director for the World Bank Group in Washington.
He has also held executive development roles in Zambia, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.