Christian Turner
Sir Christian Philip Hollier Turner is a British diplomat. In December 2025 it was announced that he would be the next British ambassador to the United States, following the dismissal of Peter Mandelson.
He previously served as Political Director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from January 2023 to September 2025 and is a Visiting Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. He was the British High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2019 to 2023, and was expected to take up the role of British ambassador to the United Nations in 2025, before his appointment to Washington was announced.
Career
Turner was educated at Marlborough College, before studying English literature at the University of Manchester, and then completing a PhD in Medieval Studies at the University of York. After making historical television documentaries, Turner joined the Cabinet Office in 1997. He held positions in Private Office, the Economic and Domestic Secretariat and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.Turner joined the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2005 whilst First Secretary at the British Embassy Washington, DC. On his return to London he served as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007; as Director Middle East and North Africa, 2009-2012 during the Arab Spring.
Turner served as High Commissioner to Kenya from 2012 to 2015. During his time in Kenya he led the UK response to the Westgate Mall terrorist attack and the UK's reconciliation with the Mau Mau.
On his return to the UK in 2016 Turner led the London Syria Conference for No 10, raising $12 billion for Syrian refugees. In 2016 he became Director General for the Middle East and Africa and then acting Political Director General. From 2017 to 2019 he served as Prime Minister Theresa May's international affairs advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor. In this role he was also senior responsible owner for the £1.25bn Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.
Turner served as High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2019 to 2023 before becoming Political Director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. In May 2025 it was announced that he would succeed Dame Barbara Woodward as British ambassador to the United Nations. Subsequently it was revealed that he was also under consideration for nomination as Britain's ambassador to the United States following the dismissal of Peter Mandelson, and in December 2025 he was appointed to that role.