UK appoints 1st female director for cyber intelligence agency

BIRMINGHAM, England

Britain on Tuesday announced that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) – a spy agency providing intelligence to the government and army – will be led by MI5 Deputy Director Anne Keast-Butler.

She will take over in May from Jeremy Fleming, who in January said he will leave the post after six years.

Keast-Butler is the first female to be appointed to the top job at the GCHQ.

The appointment was made following a cross-government recruitment process chaired by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

Announcing the appointment, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record at the heart of the UK’s national security network, helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers.  She is the ideal candidate to lead GCHQ, and Anne will use her vast experience to help keep the British public safe.” 

Keast-Butler said she is delighted to be appointed as the 17th director of the agency. "GCHQ’s mission to keep the UK safe is as inspiring today as it was when it was founded more than 100 years ago, operating at the very heart of the UK and our allies’ response to some of the most challenging issues of our time."