The U.K. picked career diplomat Tim Barrow as its envoy to the European Union, a day after the previous ambassador, Ivan Rogers, quit accusing Prime Minister Theresa May’s government of “muddled thinking” on Brexit. The appointment of Barrow, who has previously served as a diplomat in Brussels, was announced late Wednesday by May’s office in an e-mailed statement. The new envoy, who joined the Foreign Office in 1986 and was ambassador to Russia until last year, will be central to Britain’s negotiations to leave the bloc, which are scheduled to start with the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty before the end of March. “A seasoned and tough negotiator, with extensive experience of securing U.K. objectives in Brussels, he will bring his trademark energy and creativity to this job,” May’s office said. “We are delighted that Tim Barrow is taking up this role.” May’s swift action to replace Rogers signals she’s trying to restore order to the government’s Brexit approach after being blind-sided by the envoy’s resignation on Tuesday. That prompted renewed accusations from opposition lawmakers that she doesn’t have a clear plan for Brexit. Brexit supporters said Rogers was too close to the EU establishment and would have stood in the way of a “clean break” from the bloc. Those committed to retaining ties with the EU said that his expertise would have smoothed a divorce which is certain to be painful. ‘Respect’ in Brussels “Good that Tim Barrow will replace Ivan Rogers,” Charles Grant, head of the London-based Centre for European Reform, said on Twitter. Barrow is an expert on the EU and Russia and will be “respected” by the bloc’s governments and institutions, Grant wrote, adding that Brexit supporters will be unhappy that someone from inside the Foreign Office, which is widely regarded as pro-EU, has been given the job. Rogers, who was criticized last month for saying it could take 10 years to negotiate a free-trade deal with the EU, quit his post on Tuesday, telling colleagues in Brussels in an e-mail that they should keep challenging “muddled thinking” in government. He also warned the government lacks experienced negotiators as it prepares to formally start talks and told co-workers they should “never be afraid to speak the truth to those in power.” Barrow was Britain’s representative on the EU’s Political and Security Committee before starting five years as ambassador to Moscow in 2011. He has also been ambassador to Ukraine and, most recently, political director general at the Foreign Office.