Canada’s next man in Afghanistan

William Crosbie has been appointed Canada’s next ambassador to Afghanistan. He will assume the role later this summer from Ron Hoffmann to become the fifth head of mission in Kabul since Canada re-established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan in 2002.

Crosbie has held a number of senior management positions with Transport, International Trade, Fisheries and Oceans and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He joined the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in 1993 and served in a management capacity in various divisions responsible for the formulation and advocacy of Canadian trade policy, the negotiation of new trade agreements and the defence of Canadian policies before international tribunals. Most recently, he was assistant deputy minister for the Consular Services and Emergency Management Branch at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

Hoffmann was a contributor to the transformation of the Afghan mission to one of an integrated military-civilian partnership. He has been in Afghanistan for the past two years and occupied the role of deputy head of mission in Kabul before becoming the Canadian ambassador.