Nick Baker, who left the FCDO last year, has joined Hitachi Energy as head of communications and government relations for the UK and Ireland.
He has replaced Dai Richards, who recently retired and is now working for the company as a part-time advisor.
Baker started his new role last month and told In.Comms: “I’m delighted to join the inspiring Hitachi Energy team. It’s an exciting time for both the business and the industry.”
He added: “Hitachi Energy is expanding in the UK, Ireland and beyond. There is huge investment going into our electricity grids, which are critical to our energy security, economic growth, and our transition to clean, sustainable energy sources.”
In terms of his priorities, he is “focused on building our collaboration with government and other partners and communicating how we are contributing to delivering affordable, reliable, clean energy.”
Baker describes himself, on his LinkedIn profile, as an “experienced diplomat with a demonstrated history of working in government and business as well as with the military.”
He has “extensive international experience, having lived and worked in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia”.
Baker joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2001 and went on to be posted to countries such as Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and Afghanistan. He was also seconded to City Inn Hotels, as head of international business development, during his time at the Whitehall department.
Baker spent four years as the UK’s Consul General in Montreal, Canada, and was deputy director, engagement, at the COP26 Unit in the Cabinet Office.
He was also head of the COP29 Unit at the British Embassy in Baku when Azerbaijan hosted the UN Climate Change talks in 2024.