Pilmore-Bedford’s knowledge of Eastern Europe dates back to 1995-1998, when he served at the British Embassy in Moscow. He later advised London policy makers on the Russian economy. From 2004-2006 he managed the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the Baltic states, and oversaw democratic reform efforts in Ukraine during the Orange Revolution. From 2006- 2009, he served as a FCO policy advisor and Deputy Head of Strategy for Russia.