Ajay Sharma CMG has been appointed as the new British High Commissioner to Malaysia, taking over from Alisa Terry CMG, the British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, which was announced on Wednesday.
Ajay Sharma’s appointment marks a significant milestone in his 30-year diplomatic career, as he takes on his fourth Head of Mission posting. He is expected to arrive in Malaysia with his family in the upcoming weeks.
A graduate of Oxford University and a London native. Ajay is not new to this role, he comes with a huge experience. Having served as the UK Chargé d’Affaires to Iran (2013-2015), British Ambassador to Qatar (2015-2020) and most recently as Chargé d’Affaires to Türkiye (2022-2023). He also held important diplomatic postings in Moscow and Paris, where he served as a Deputy Ambassador to France.
Prior to his appointment, Ajay served as Director of International Affairs at the National Security Secretariat of the UK Cabinet Office and as a Director in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Throughout his 30-year career, Ajay has played many critical roles internationally. He has also served as the UK Representative for the Cyprus Settlement (2021-2022) and as a Deputy Negotiator for the Joint Comprehensive Plan for Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. Ajay is also fluent in French and Turkish, and according to the High Commission, he is currently learning Bahasa Melayu in preparation for his posting in Malaysia. Until Ajay arrives in Malaysia with his family, David Wallace will continue to serve as Acting High Commissioner.
