UK appoints Mark Smithson to head trade relations with Nigeria

UK appoints Mark Smithson to head UK-Nigeria trade relations

The United Kingdom has appointed Mark Smithson as the new country director for the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Nigeria. Smithson succeeds Chim Chalemera, who recently concluded a three-year tenure in the role.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office announced the appointment on Thursday, highlighting Smithson’s extensive experience as a civil servant, having held a variety of roles both domestically and internationally.

In his new position, Smithson will oversee the UK-Nigeria trade and investment relations, aiming to boost high-value inward investments, enhance exports between the two nations, and support market access and trade policy priorities.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Smithson emphasized Nigeria’s significance to the UK and the global community. “Our historical, cultural, people-to-people, and business ties are deep and ever-growing,” he stated. “I am delighted to take up this new role as the DBT’s country director and I look forward to forging partnerships with the Nigerian government, the private sector, and the UK supply chain. Together, we can seize the opportunities this great country and our unique partnership offer to deliver a more prosperous future for both our countries.”

Mark Smithson’s vast experience

Before his appointment in Nigeria, Smithson was based in London from 2021 to 2024, where he led the DBT’s capital investment agenda. His responsibilities included managing relations with European and United States corporations and, from September 2022, serving as the UK government’s global account manager for large institutional investors from Southeast Asia, focusing on Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Smithson’s career includes a significant stint in Spain from 2007 to 2013, where he led the consular section at the British Consulate General in Barcelona. During his time there, he managed numerous high-profile consular cases and oversaw arrangements for major sporting events.

In 2013, Smithson moved to the United States to head consular services for Florida, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico from the British Consulate General in Miami. His tenure involved extensive outreach with US government agencies and managing several crises, including leading rapid deployment teams.

By 2017, Smithson had transferred to Atlanta, US, to spearhead the UK’s tech and creative trade and investment agenda in the Southeast region. A year later, he moved to Bangkok, Thailand, where he served until 2021. In Thailand, Smithson led efforts to increase exports and investment and laid the groundwork for the UK-Thailand Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).

Mark Smithson is married to Patima, who is Thai, and they have a three-year-old child.