UK appoints new British High Commissioner to Cyprus

The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced on Friday the appointment of Michael Tatham CMG as the new British High Commissioner to Cyprus.

Tatham will take up his appointment in November this year, succeeding Irfan Siddiq OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

“It is a huge honour to be appointed British High Commissioner to Cyprus,” Tatham posted on X.

“The UK and Cyprus have exceptionally close ties underpinned by deep people to people connections and many shared interests. I feel fortunate to be taking on this role at a time of strengthening relations between the UK and Cyprus.”

A career diplomat, Tatham most recently served as the delivery director for the European political community summit from 2023 to 2024. His previous postings include deputy head of mission in Washington DC, where he also served as chargé d’affaires from 2019 to 2020.

Tatham’s diplomatic career spans over three decades, during which he has held several positions as Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, political counsellor at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, UK ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina and deputy head of mission in Prague and Sofia

He also served as private secretary for foreign affairs at Downing Street from 1999 to 2002.

Tatham joined the FCO, [now FCDO], in 1987.