Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

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23rd April 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

The Olympic spirit

Last week I beat an Olympic champion at tennis. OK, an ex-Olympic champion. A water-polo ex-Olympic champion. And it was Wii tennis (the video game). And he’d never played before. But a win’s a win, right? It was at a fantastic event which the Embassy supported. A competition for able-bodied children and children with disabilities […]

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10th April 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

The power of verse

We hosted a very moving event last week. George and Mari Gömöri had assembled a collection of poetry about the holocaust, written by Hungarian Jews, non-Jews and Roma who had either experienced it personally or by those touched by it in other ways. They and their collaborators translated the verses into English and published the […]

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3rd April 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

This is GREAT Britain

The UK has a strong image around the world and, as I’ve discovered, here in Hungary.  We’re respected for our traditions, our reliability and the quality of what we produce.  It’s a great advantage for us – whether we’re working in Embassies overseas or trying to do business there. But the British brand needs a […]

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29th March 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Building the Olympics

I can’t wait for the Olympics to start. I love to watch sport and the Olympics is really special.  It’ll be even more special this year in London. I didn’t get any tickets in the public ballot so I’ll be watching the Games on TV. But the quality and diversity of the competition will be […]

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7th March 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Completing the free market

I’ll be spending a lot of my time on bilateral Hungary-UK issues over the next few years. But of course another important feature of my work will be our countries’ relationship with the EU and how the EU will develop. With that in mind I went to a well attended seminar on the EU’s future […]

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28th February 2012 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Getting the ball rolling

I’ve been preparing for this job for several months, so it feels great to be here in Budapest at last: and to have been able to present my letters of credence to President Schmitt on just my third day. It was a formal occasion  but we managed to talk a little business too – and […]

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About Jonathan Knott

Jonathan Knott was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Hungary in March 2011 and arrived in Budapest in February 2012 to take up his post. He left this post on April…

Jonathan Knott was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to
Hungary in March 2011 and arrived in Budapest in February 2012 to take
up his post. He left this post on April 2015.
He has previously held a variety of diplomatic posts at home and
abroad, several with a particular focus on commercial and corporate
finance issues. Jonathan has served in a number of positions in the
British Diplomatic Service since joining in 1988:
Before his appointment was Deputy Head of Mission and Director for Trade and Investment in South Korea from 2008 to 2011.Between 2005 and 2008 he held the post of Deputy Finance Director in the FCO.From 2000 to 2005 he served as First Secretary (Trade, Corporate Affairs and Finance Negotiator) in UKDel OECD Paris.From 1996 to 2000 he was First Secretary (Head of Political/Economic/Aid Section) in Mexico.From 1995 to 1996 he worked in the FCO as Deputy European Correspondent at the EU Directorate.Between 1991 and 1995 he served as Third later Second Secretary (Political / Press and Public Affairs) in Havana.From 1990 to 1991 he was Desk Officer in the FCO’s First Gulf War Emergency Unit.Between 1988 and 1990 he worked as Desk Officer in the FCO in the Anti Drugs Cooperation Department.
Jonathan holds an MA in law from Oxford University, and he is a
member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He speaks
English, French, Spanish and Hungarian. He is married to Angela Susan
Knott and has one daughter and two sons.

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