Joseph Cole, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, succeeding Norman Hamilton.

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry website, Mr Cole was appointed this month and will assume his duties upon presentation of his Letter of Commission to Queen Elizabeth.

Joseph ColeJoseph Cole

Mr Cole, a career diplomat, was appointed permanent secretary at the Foreign Affairs Ministry when the Labour Party returned to power in 2013.

Since then he has served as ambassador in Sweden and Denmark, having previously been appointed Malta’s ambassador to the US and high commissioner to Canada.

Mr Cole first joined the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1977, serving as consul general for Malta in New South Wales, Australia, from 1983 to 1985. He was also part of a presidential trade delegation that visited Australia and Singapore in 1986.

Mr Cole is shown on the official website as High Commissioner designate.

His predecessor was appointed Malta’s envoy to the UK and Ireland in 2013. Mr Hamilton, a former TV host and founder of one of Malta’s leading travel agencies, was selected from a list of about 25 people.

The Foreign Ministry was asked if other people had been considered for the post, along with Mr Cole, but no reply was received. 

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