Michael Hastings

Background

Jay was born in Hampshire and educated at Winchester College, Magdalen College, Oxford, of which he is an honorary fellow, and the University of London"s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Education

Jay was born in Hampshire and educated at Winchester College, Magdalen College, Oxford, of which he is an honorary fellow, and the University of London"s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He served as a VSO teacher in Zambia.

Career

Jay joined the Ministry of Overseas Development in 1969, serving in London, Washington (at the World Bank) in 1973 and as First Secretary (Development) at the British High Commission, New Delhi, in 1978. He transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1981, serving as Private Secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State. As Counsellor he served in the European Secretariat of the Cabinet Office from 1985 to 1987.

He was posted as Counsellor in the Paris Embassy from 1987 to 1990, returning to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Director for European Affairs until 1994.

From July 1996 to September 2001 he was British Ambassador to France. In July 2001, he was appointed Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and thus Head of the Diplomatic Service, a post he took up on 14 January 2002.

In 2005 and 2006, Jay served as the Prime Minister"s Personal Representative (Sherpa) for the G8 summits at Gleneagles and Street St. Petersburg in addition to his PUS duties. Upon his retirement from Her Majesty"s Diplomatic Service on 27 July 2006, he was recommended for a life peerage, and this was gazetted as Baron Jay of Ewelme, of Ewelme in the County of Oxfordshire, on 18 September 2006.

Lord Jay was the Chair of Merlin, the British health and medical aid agency, from 2007 until 2013.

He has been a non-executive director of Associated British Foods (since 2006),Cr Agricole (2007-2011), EDF (since 2009), Candover Public Limited Company (since 2008)and Valeo Société Anonyme (since 2007). He is a Trustee of the Thomson Reuters Founders share company (since 2013), and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the British Library (2011 -). He was Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission from 2008 until 2013). he has served on sub-committees C, East and F of the House of Lords Select Committee on European Union affairs

Jay married Sylvia Mylroie in 1975.

In 2005 Lady Jay was appointed Vice-Chairman of L"Oreal United Kingdom & Ireland, then Chairman from 2011-2013. She has been a non-executive director on the board of Alcatel-Lucent, and is non-executive director of Street-Gobain, Lazard and Casino Group.

She is Chairman of the Pilgrim Trust and has been a trustee of the Prison Reform Trust and Entente Cordiale Scholarship Scheme. Michael Jay, Esq. (birth–13 June 1992) Michael Jay, Esq., Chipotle Mexican Grill (13 June 1992-1931 December 1996) Sir Michael Jay, Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George (31 December 1996-1917 June 2006) Sir Michael Jay, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George (17 June 2006-2018 September 2006) The Rt Honorary

The Lord Jay of Ewelme, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George (18 September since 2006).

Achievements

• He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Street Michael & Street George in the 1992 Birthday Honours, promoted to Knight Commander in the 1997 New Year Honours and made a Knight Grand Cross in the 2006 Birthday Honours.

Membership

He was appointed Director General for European and Economic Affairs 1994-1996, following which he became a Senior Associate Member of Street Antony"s College, Oxford.