The new British Ambassador to Greece Simon Gass presented his credentials to Greek President Constantine Stephanopoulos on December 21, 2004.

Until recently Gass was director of resources at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He succeeds Sir David Madden as ambassador to Greece.

He has served in Athens previously, as second secretary and later first secretary, from 1984 to 1987. He speaks and writes Greek.

Gass was born in 1956 and joined the Diplomatic Service in 1977 after studying law at the University of Reading.

During his career he has served in Lagos, Nigeria, South Africa and Italy.

Gass is married to Marianne Gass and they have three children.