UK Appoints New Country Director to Lead Trade, Investment Relations with Nigeria

• The UK has appointed Mr. Mark Smithson as the new Country Director for the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Nigeria
• Smithson brings extensive experience as a civil servant, having held a variety of positions both in the UK and overseas

The UK has appointed Mr. Mark Smithson as the Country Director for the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Nigeria, as announced by the UK High Commission in Lagos. Smithson succeeds Chim Chalemera, who recently concluded a three-year tenure in the role.

Smithson brings extensive experience as a civil servant, having held a variety of positions both in the UK and overseas. In his new role, he will lead UK-Nigeria trade and investment relations, focusing on increasing high-value inward investment, boosting exports between the UK and Nigeria, and supporting market access and trade policy priorities.

Upon his arrival in Nigeria, Smithson remarked, “Nigeria is a country of huge importance to the UK and the world. Our historical, cultural, people-to-people, and business ties are growing deep. 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 to seize the opportunities this great country and our unique partnership offer to deliver a more prosperous future for both our countries.”

Before his appointment in Nigeria, Smithson was based in London from 2021 to 2024, leading the DBT’s Capital Investment agenda. He first covered European and US corporations and later served as His Majesty’s Government’s global account manager for large institutional investors from Southeast Asia, focusing on Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

From 2007 to 2013, Smithson headed the Consular Section at the British Consulate General in Barcelona, Spain, managing high-profile consular cases and sporting events. In 2013, he transferred to the US to head Consular services covering Florida, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico from the British Consulate General in Miami. During his tenure, he oversaw extensive outreach with US government agencies and handled several crises as a Rapid Deployment Team leader.

Smithson moved to Atlanta, USA, in 2017, where he led the UK’s Tech & Creative Trade and Investment agenda for the southeastern USA. In 2018, he transferred to Bangkok, Thailand, where he served until 2021. There, he led the team to drive exports and investment and laid the groundwork for the UK-Thailand Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).