Ambassador Gerard McGurk, a career diplomat of the British diplomatic service, has been appointed as the new head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo, officially assuming his duties today.

Ambassador McGurk’s previous diplomatic experience includes significant roles in crisis management and international relations, both bilateral and multilateral, across various regions, including Madrid, Amman, Skopje, and the United Nations in New York.

He was part of the British government team working on the final status under the United Nations special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, as announced by the OSCE Kosovo.

McGurk stated that his prior experiences have shaped his diplomatic approach, which is based on inclusive dialogue, partnership, respect, and cooperation.

"These are values that are deeply rooted in the work of the OSCE here.

As the new Head of Mission, I am committed to continuing the excellent work of my predecessors in fulfilling the core mandate of the Mission – to promote good governance, protect and promote human rights and community rights, and enhance public security for all," said McGurk.

Before his current role, McGurk served as Deputy Director and Head of the Security and Resilience Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and as Deputy Director for Operational Effectiveness of the diplomatic network.

He has led consular efforts for the Afghanistan Working Group in London, playing a crucial role in crisis management during the evacuation from Kabul in August and September 2021, and he represented the British government in sanction committees concerning Iraq and Al-Qaeda at the United Nations in New York.

McGurk holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Open University in the United Kingdom.