Career diplomat Brook Barrington is to become the new boss at Foreign Affairs.

Dr Barrington spent 20 years at Foreign Affairs and Trade, serving as our ambassador to Thailand.

More recently he's been working in the wider public service, including the Deputy Justice secretary.

His predecessor John Allen was in the spotlight after a Malaysian military attache was given diplomatic immunity to leave the country after he was accused of a sexual attack non a young Wellington woman.

The man has since been returned to the country to face the charges.