Dame Denise Holt

Biography

Dame Denise Holt is a life long public servant. She joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1970, as Research Analyst, specialising in Iberia. In 1984 she was posted to Dublin, embarking on a generalist diplomatic career. After postings in London and Brazil, she pioneered a job-share in a challenging front line department dealing with the former Soviet Union. She then took unpaid leave to accompany her husband on his final posting. On her return to London she was appointed Deputy Director of Personnel for the FCO, becoming Director in 1999. As Director, she was answerable to the Board and Ministers for all people issues in a complex global organisation of some 12000 employees in over 200 posts, serving on globally diverse terms and conditions, providing essential services to Ministers and the British public in some of the most challenging environments. Denise Holt was appointed Ambassador in Mexico (2002-5), returning to London to shape a newly created role of Director for Migration. She was concurrently Director for the Overseas Territories. In 2007 she was appointed Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2009, in which year she retired from the Diplomatic Service. She is currently Chair of the Anglo-Spanish Society, and a member of the Board of Ofqual (the examinations regulator for England). Denise is married with one son at university.


Remunerated Interests

Non-Executive Director, HSBC Bank plc

Non-Executive Director, Scottish Power Renewable Energy Ltd

Board Member, Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL)

Independent Chair of Standards, South Downs National Park Authority

Unremunerated Interests

Chair of Anglo-Spanish Society

Independent Chair of Nominations, Alzheimer's Society

Robin Humphrey Fellow at the School for American Studies, University of London

Member of Management Council of the Canada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies, LSE

Associate Member of BUPA

Registered Shareholdings
None

Ownership of Land and Property
House in Sussex

Flat in London

Party Political Activity
None

Other Declarations
Pension from Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Date of Registration
1 April 2010