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Navtej Sarna is next envoy to UK
Sarna, who had assumed the position of Secretary (West) on September 1, 2014, is expected to take up his assignment shortly.
New Delhi: Secretary (West) Navtej Sarna has been appointed the next High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom.
Sarna, who had assumed the position of Secretary (West) on September 1, 2014, is expected to take up his assignment shortly, says a press statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday.
He will replace Ranjan Mathai, who is serving as the High Commissioner of India to the UK.
Born in Jalandhar in 1957, he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1980, and has served in various capacities in Delhi and abroad.
He worked in Indian Embassies in Moscow, Warsaw, Thimphu, Geneva, Tehran and Washington between 1980 and 2002.
He also has distinction of the longest serving (2002-08) Spokesperson of the ministry.
He was India's Ambassador to Israel from 2008-12, and Additional/Special Secretary (international organisations and political) at the headquarters from 2012-14.
Mr Sarna is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books. He speaks Russian and Polish apart from English and Indian languages. He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Avina Sarna and has a son and a daughter.