The Government has agreed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark may recommend to Her Majesty, the Queen that Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen be appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to succeed Claus Grube, who, as was previously decided, has been appointed as Denmark’s Ambassador in London.

Commenting on this recommendation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Villy Søvndal said:

“I am very pleased about the decision to recommend Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen as the new Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs works broadly to safeguard Danish interests abroad. This applies to the effort to contribute to prosperity and jobs in Denmark, our security and the efforts to influence the world with our values regarding green and sustainable development, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

All these various tasks are to be undertaken in a time when the world is changing. When the old landmarks which have provided direction in the world for many years are disappearing. When new actors are exerting themselves. These are the new currents in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must navigate, while at the same time we must also understand how to tackle the economic challenges which the entire Danish society is subject to.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undergone numerous changes in recent years. It will be quite a job to continue this development and to tackle the many new challenges that still await us. I am, therefore, particularly pleased that Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen has been recommended for the position of Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. He has all the qualities that are necessary to not just maintain but also continue to develop the Danish Foreign Service so that it remains a relevant and absolutely vital tool for safeguarding Denmark’s interests around the world in co-operation with the rest of the Central Administration.

Therefore, I along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ other Ministers look forward to working together with the new Permanent Secretary.”

Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen was employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and has been posted to the embassies in Moscow, Washington, London and most recently as Ambassador at the Danish OECD delegation in Paris. He has also worked as the Permanent Under-Secretary of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and comes from a position as Group Director for International Policy in Vodafone in London.