Dr Catherine Raines will become chief executive of UKTrade and Investment from 7 September 2015, following current chief executive Dominic Jermey’s appointment to a new priority position as Foreign and Commonwealth Office International Counter-Extremism Coordinator.
She takes up the post of UKTI chief executive after more than two years leadingUKTI in China, having overseen an increase in UK business successes attributable to UKTI support from around £300m a year to more than £3.7bn.
Prior to joining the civil service, she also ran her own business as well as holding the role of deputy chief executive at Staffordshire County Council.
Jermey joined the FCO in 1993 and prior to his role as UKTI CEO he was Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, where pursuing UK interests in countering extremism was a key issue.
In earlier roles, Jeremey was based in Afghanistan with a focus on UK anti-terrorist objectives, led on the threat from Afghanistan-based extremist groups, and worked in Pakistan on Islamist issues affecting the UK. He will take up his new position at FCO on 4 September 2015.
Trade and Investment Minister Lord Maude said: “The world increasingly sees Britain as the best place to do business in and to do business from. UKTI has a central role in mobilising government support for exports and inward investment. We have made great progress, especially in attracting investment from overseas, where Britain’s success among EU countries is second to none.
“I am hugely grateful to Dominic for his leadership of UKTI, and wish him every success in his vital new role. I look forward to working with Catherine, who comes with a high reputation for leading change in both public and private sectors.”