Ruairi O'Connell

Foreign Office career

O'Connell joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) in 2001, beginning in its Eastern Adriatic Department. According to his official biography, his work focused on European security and sustainable economic development.

From 2004 to 2008 he served at the British Embassy in Kosovo, first as Second Secretary (Political) and later as Deputy Head of Mission, during the period leading up to Kosovo's declaration of independence. In London he was Head of Unit for the Foreign Secretary's Special Representative on Climate Change (2008–2010), Head of Strategy and Analysis in the Finance Directorate (2010–2011), Deputy Director of the London 2012 and GREAT campaigns (2012–2013), Head of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Project (2013–2014), and Deputy Director and Head of the NATO Summit Unit in the Directorate for Defence and International Security (2014–2015).

Ambassador to Kosovo

In July 2014 the Foreign Office announced his appointment as ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo in succession to Ian Cliff. He arrived in Kosovo on 10 April 2015 and presented his credentials to President Atifete Jahjaga on 14 April 2015. His appointment ended in September 2019.

Home Office and Financial Conduct Authority

He joined the Home Office in 2020 as Director, International. In August 2022 the Financial Conduct Authority announced that he would join it from the Home Office as Director of International, responsible for helping to shape the regulator's international strategy and for overseeing its international engagement, including matters arising from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.