Laurie Bristow

Sir Laurence Stanley Charles Bristow KCMG (born 23 November 1963) is a British diplomat.[1]

Sir Laurie Bristow KCMG
British Ambassador to Russia
In office January 2016 – January 2020
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron Theresa May Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Sir Tim Barrow
Succeeded by	Deborah Bronnert
British Ambassador to Azerbaijan
In office 2004–2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Andy Tucker
Succeeded by	Carolyn Browne
Personal details
Born	(1963-11-23) 23 November 1963
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge
Occupation	Diplomat

Bristow was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1986. He achieved a PhD, awarded by University of Cambridge in 1990, with his thesis called "Ezra Pound: Poetry and Public Speaking".[1] He achieved an MBA, in 2001, awarded by The Open University[2].

Bristow joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1990. In 1992, after attending a year of Romanian language training, he was posted to Bucharest, Romania where he worked for three years as Second Secretary. He then returned to the FCO in London where he worked in the European Union Department. From 1996–1998, he served as Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Europe. After a year of Turkish language training, he worked in Ankara, Turkey as Head of the Political Section from 1999–2002. From 2002–2003 he worked in Rome at the NATO Defence College. In 2003 Bristow worked on the Iraq Policy Unit, FCO.[1]

Bristow become the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan from February 2004 until 2007.[3] He was Minister (Deputy Head of Mission) in Moscow for 2007–10.[4] He then returned to London as Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, from 2010 until 2012.[5] He subsequently replaced Thomas Drew as Director, Intelligence and National Security.[1][6][7] In 2015, he was succeeded by Jonathan Allen[8] and appointed to be Ambassador to the Russian Federation.[9][10] He served in the role from January 2016 to January 2020, after which he was succeeded by Deborah Bronnert.

Bristow was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) "for services to British foreign policy interests and national security" in the 2015 New Year Honours.[11]