AmHr: Speakers' Bios

Profile

Ian Fletcher took up the post in April 2007 as Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office (formerly The Patent Office), responsible for UK policy on intellectual property, delivery of patents and trade marks and EU and international IP issues. 

From 2004 to 2007 Ian was Managing Director of UK Trade and Investment’s International Trade Development Group.  Here he was responsible for trade development services in the English Regions, as well as the market directorates in London, which provide UKTI’s main operational link with overseas posts.

Ian joined the UK Civil Service in 1989 after an earlier career in the New Zealand diplomatic service.  He worked initially in the (then) Monopolies & Mergers Commission, until 1991.  Ian then worked in Trade Policy at the end of the GATT Uruguay Round, and continued this work during a secondment with European Commission, negotiating in the World Trade Organisation on Free Trade Agreements.  Ian returned to the UK in 1998 and, after working in DTI’s HR area, he joined the then Overseas Trade Services organisation at the time the Wilson Review of Export Promotion was being finalised and British Trade International was being established, working on finance HR and corporate policy issues.  In 2000, Ian undertook a short secondment with the UN Administration in Kosovo as Head of the Customs Service and Department of Trade & Industry.  He returned later that year to head DTI’s Directorate responsible for electricity and gas policy.  During 2002, Ian moved to the Cabinet Office as Principal Private Secretary to Sir Andrew Turnbull, the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service.


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