Richard Hugh Montgomery has been appointed as the new British high commissioner to Nigeria.

The United Kingdom government announced his appointment in a statement on Tuesday.

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 and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.

Montgomery succeeds Catriona Laing who has been been the UK’s representative in Nigeria since 2018.

The statement said Laing will be transferred to another diplomatic service appointment.

Montgomery served as the counsellor (development) and head of office, Department for International Development (DFID), Abuja, from 2009-2013.

He holds a Ph.D 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.

Montgomery is expected to begin his new role in April 2023.

The Cable