Sir Mark Justin Lyall Grant (born 29 May 1956) is a former senior British diplomat who was previously the United Kingdom's National Security Adviser and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations.
Education and early life Born in Hammersmith to Mary (née Moore) and Maj Gen Ian Lyall Grant MC, Lyall Grant was educated at Eton College and read law at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at Middle Temple, London before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1980.
Career Lyall Grant was British Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) from 2009 to 2015.ukun.fco.gov.uk: "Permanent Representative – Sir Mark Lyall Grant"Change of UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 7 October 2014 He held the office of President of the United Nations Security Council four times: in November 2010, March 2012, June 2013, and August 2014.
Lyall Grant was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2003 New Year Honours before being promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 2006 Birthday Honours and a Knight Grand Cross in the 2018 New Year Honours.
On 7 July 2015, Number 10 Downing St announced that Lyall Grant would replace Sir Kim Darroch as the United Kingdom's National Security Advisor on 7 September 2015, with Darroch moving to a different diplomatic post. As of September 2015, Lyall Grant was paid a salary of between £160,000 and £164,999, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time. On 27 February 2017 it was announced that Lyall Grant would retire in April and be replaced by the Home Office Permanent Secretary Mark Sedwill. Since 2017, he has served on the governing board at Eton College.
He was appointed King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2022.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office career timeline 2015–17 National Security Adviser 2009–15 British Permanent Representative to the United Nations 2007–09 FCO, Director General for Political Affairs 2003–06 High Commissioner to Pakistan 2000–03 FCO director, Africa 1998–2000 Head, European Union department, FCO 1996–98 Deputy High Commissioner and Consul General, South Africa 1994–96 Seconded to European Secretariat, Cabinet Office 1990–93 First Secretary, Paris 1987–89 Private Secretary to Minister of State, FCO 1985–87 FCO 1982–85 Second Secretary, Islamabad 1980–82 FCO, worked in Southern Africa department
Personal life His wife, Sheila, is also a diplomat. In April 2012, Lady Lyall Grant, with Huberta von Voss Wittig, made a video appeal to Asma al-Assad, calling on the Syrian first lady to take a stand against violence in her country.Lyall Grant appeals to Syria's First Lady, bbc.co.uk. Accessed 21 February 2024. The Lyall Grants have a son and a daughter. Lyall Grant's spare time activities include golf, tennis, and bridge.
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Offices held