Mark Kent

Mark Andrew Geoffrey Kent CMG (born Spilsby 14 January 1966)^[1] is a British businessman and former diplomat^[2] who served as UK ambassador to Argentina from 2016 to 2021.^[3][4]

Mark Kent in 2017

Kent was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle before he read law at Lincoln College, Oxford,^[1] graduating in 1986.^[5] He joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in 1987. He served in Brasília,^[5] Brussels, Mexico City and Casteau before being appointed Ambassador to Vietnam in 2007.^[6] From 2012 to 2016 he was Ambassador to Thailand.^[7][8]

Kent was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to British foreign policy.^[9]

In 2021, Kent was appointed the ninth Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association.^[10][11] He has been Executive Chair of the Vietnam-UK Network since April 2023.^[12]