Alan Charlton became British Ambassador to Brazil in December 2008. He describes this post as one of the most interesting in the British Diplomatic Service.

His previous career in the British Diplomatic Service has been:

2004 -  2008 Deputy Head of Mission, Washington
2001 – 2004 Director Human Resources, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
2000 – 2001 Director South-East Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
1996 – 2000 British Embassy Bonn, then Berlin
1993 – 1996 Head of Eastern Adriatic Unit, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and member of Bosnia Contact Group.
                   Participation at Bosnia peace talks in Dayton Ohio (November 1995)
1991 – 1993 Deputy Chief Assessments Staff, Cabinet Office
1986 – 1990 British Mission, Berlin
1984 – 1986 Desk Officer Israel and Lebanon
1981 – 1984 British Embassy Amman
1979 – 1980 Arabic Language Training
1978 – 1979 West Africa Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Alan Charlton was a teacher at a German school 1975 – 1977.

He was educated at Cambridge University (MA), Leicester University (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) and Manchester University (Bachelor of Linguistics).

He was appointed Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1996 and Commander of Victorian Order in 2007.

He is married to Judy. Their three children are working in the United Kingdom.