Lord Mandelson was appointed UK Ambassador to the United States of America in December 2024. He started the role on 10 February 2025. Lord Mandelson has held a range of senior positions in government under Prime Minister Tony Blair and later Gordon Brown. He was First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from 2008 to 2010. He was Secretary of State for Business and Trade (1998) and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1999 to 2001). He was appointed to the House of Lords as a life peer in 2008, from which he has taken a period of indefinite leave. Lord Mandelson was European Commissioner for Trade from 2004 to 2008. He was Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004. Lord Mandelson is co-founder of Global Counsel, a global public policy advisory firm. From 1985 to 1990, Lord Mandelson was the Labour Party’s Director of Campaigns and Communications.