Igor Pokaz

Igor Pokaz
Igor Pokaz
Ambassador to the United Kingdom
In office 2017 – 31 May 2023
Preceded by	Ivan Grdešić
Succeeded by	Davor Ljubanović (acting)
Ambassador to NATO
In office 2008–2012
Preceded by	Davor Božinović
Succeeded by	Boris Grigić
Ambassador to the Russian Federation
In office 2012–2015
Preceded by	Nebojša Koharović
Succeeded by	Tonči Staničić
Personal details
Born	(1968-05-23) May 23, 1968 (age 55) Osijek, Croatia
Citizenship	Croatia
Nationality	Croat
Children	1 child
Parent	Ivan Pokaz (father)
Relatives	Tomislav Pokaz (brother)
Alma mater	The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Oxford University University of Zagreb
Military service
Allegiance	Croatia
Branch/service	Croatian Army
Years of service	1991-1995
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Croatian War of Independence

Igor Pokaz (born 23 May 1968) is a Croatian diplomat that has served as ambassador to NATO and Russia. He also served as Croatia's ambassador to the United Kingdom between September 2017 and May 2023.^[1]

Education

Pokaz has a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Zagreb and received his Master's degree in International Relations from the Global Master of Arts Program at The Fletcher School, Tufts University. He also attended Oxford University's Foreign Service Programme from 1998 to 1999.^[2]

Career

Igor Pokaz started working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994. His first posting abroad was to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations from 1999 to 2003, in the capacity of diplomatic counsellor. From 2003 to 2007, Pokaz served in the Ministry of Defence, as the Head of Department for International Defense Cooperation and followingly as Under Secretary for Defense Policy. He briefly worked in the private sector, as Head of the Office of CEO Emil Tedeschi at Atlantic Grupa from 2007 to 2008. Pokaz returned to the public sector at the calling of then Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and President Stjepan Mesić, as he was appointed Permanent Representative to NATO. The rationale behind the appointment was the key role Pokaz played in Croatia's accession to NATO, as well as his expertise on defense policy gained during his service at the Ministry of Defence. Pokaz went on to serve as Croatia's ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2015, and served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the United Kingdom from 2017 until May 2023.

Personal life

Igor Pokaz is the son of retired Croatian general Ivan Pokaz. He is married and has one child.^[3]

Pokaz served in the Croatian Armed Forces during the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995. In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Croatian Armed Forces^[4]

References