Sir Julian King

Sir Julian King is a British diplomat and civil servant who served as Ambassador to Ireland and France and Director General of the Northern Ireland Office. After the resignation of Jonathan Hill as the British European Commissioner and European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, Julian was nominated by Prime Minister David Cameron to replace Jonathan. On 2 August 2016, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced his intention to allocate Julian the new portfolio of Security Union, with responsibility for European policy on counter-terrorism, countering cyber threats, tackling disinformation, and securing critical digital infrastructure. He took office on 19 September 2016 and with the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union on 31 January 2020, he was the last British official to hold a position and portfolio within the European Commission. Julian was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2006 and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) by Queen Elizabeth during a visit to Belfast on 24 June 2014.