The Prime Minister has today appointed Sir Richard Moore KCMG to be the next Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.
Sir Richard is currently Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and will take up the position of Chair on 1 October 2025.
The process to recruit Sir Mark Walport’s successor began in October last year and was chaired by Mary Ann Sieghart, Senior Independent Trustee of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.
We are delighted to welcome Sir Richard Moore as the next Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust. A Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University in 1985-86, Richard brings a very personal understanding of the life-changing impact this opportunity has on UK students who can pursue graduate studies in the US without a financial burden. His experience as a student in the US and his distinguished career in public service will make him a tremendous advocate for the Kennedy Scholarships.
“I would also like to pay tribute to Sir Mark Walport for his decade of committed service to the Trust, first as a Trustee and then as Chair.
Mary Ann Sieghart
I am delighted to have been offered the Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust. In sending some of our best and brightest post-graduates to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Trust does vital work and strengthens the bonds between the UK and US. I am looking forward to being able to contribute to the Trust’s work in this new role.
Sir Richard
Sir Richard Moore has served as Chief of MI6, the UK Secret Intelligence Service, since July 2020. His tenure as Chief concludes on 30 September 2025 and he will take up the position of Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust on 1 October 2025.
Prior to his role as Chief of MI6, Richard was Director General for Political Affairs at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office from April 2018 to August 2020. He served as British Ambassador to Turkey from January 2014 to December 2017. Previously he was Director for Europe, Latin America and Globalisation (2010 to 2012) and Director for Programmes and Change (2008 to 2010). He has had postings in Vietnam, Turkey (1990 to 1992), Pakistan and Malaysia.
Appointment of Sir Richard Moore as the Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust – GOV.UK
