New Delhi: India‘s High Commissioner to Britain Navtej Sarna was today appointed as the next Ambassador to the US as that country prepares for a presidential transition.

“Navtej Singh Sarna (IFS: 1980) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United State of America,” an External Affairs Ministry statement said.

“He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” it added.

He takes charge after Arun Kumar Singh retired at the end of last month. Both Mr Sarna and Mr Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington’s closest allies.

Mr Sarna was moved to London as the High Commissioner around eight months ago.

Before moving to London, Mr Sarna was Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs where he oversaw the successful hosting of the India-Africa Forum Summit last October. The summit was attended by a record number of 53 African countries.

Mr Sarna was among the longest-serving spokespersons of the ministry between 2002 and 2008. He has also had postings in Moscow, Warsaw, Tehran, Geneva and Thimphu.

Mr Sarna is also a prolific author of many fiction and non-fiction books, the most recent being ‘Second Thoughts: On Books, Authors and the Writerly Life’ that was released last year. He was a big hit in London’s literary circles and had also become, in a short span, a popular figure in the Indian community in the Britain.