William Ehrman

Sir William Geoffrey Ehrman KCMG
Ambassador from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China
In office 15 March 2006 – January 2010
Preceded by	Sir Christopher Hum
Succeeded by	Sebastian Wood
Ambassador from the United Kingdom to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
In office 1998–2000
Preceded by	Nick Elam
Succeeded by	Gordon Wetherell
Personal details
Born	(1950-08-28) 28 August 1950
Spouse(s)	Penelope Ann LePatourel
Relations	John Patrick William Ehrman (father) Susan Blake (mother)
Alma mater	Eton College Trinity College, Cambridge

Sir William Ehrman, KCMG is a British civil servant and former Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee.

Ehrman was educated at Eton College and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge with a first class degree in Mandarin Chinese.

Ehrman joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Diplomatic Service in 1973, and has had postings in Beijing, New York, Hong Kong and was British Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1998–2000.

Ehrman was the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's director general for defence and intelligence between 2002 and 2004, before becoming British Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 2006 to 2010. Ehrman gave evidence to The Iraq Inquiry in November 2009.

Ehrman is married to Penelope (daughter of Wallace Le Patourel), and the couple have three daughters and a son named Tom.

Offices held

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sir John Sawers	Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary 1995–1997	Succeeded by Sir John Grant
Preceded by Nick Elam	British Ambassador to Luxembourg 1998–2000	Succeeded by Gordon Wetherell
Preceded by Sir Peter Ricketts	Director, International Security of the Foreign Office 2000–2002	Succeeded by Edward Oakden
Preceded by Sir Stephen Wright	Director-General, Defence and Intelligence of the Foreign Office 2002–2004	Succeeded by Sir David Richmond
Preceded by Sir Christopher Hum	British Ambassador to China 2006–2010	Succeeded by Sebastian Wood
Government offices
Preceded by Sir John Scarlett	Chairman (interim) of the Joint Intelligence Committee 2004–2005	Succeeded by Sir Richard Mottram

External links

• Bio at British Embassy in China