Anne Keast-Butler becomes first female Director GCHQ

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has announced the appointment of Anne Keast-Butler as Director GCHQ, with agreement from the Prime Minister.

Anne succeeds Sir Jeremy Fleming, who announced his decision to step down in January after six years of service. She will leave her current role as Deputy Director General MI5 to take up the new position in May, at which point she will become the first female Director GCHQ.

She said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the 17th Director GCHQ. 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.

Read more - Schoolgirls to be “whisked to secret sites for GCHQ cybersecurity workshops”

“In just the last year GCHQ has contributed vital intelligence to shape the West’s response to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine; helped disrupt terrorist plots; and worked tirelessly to tackle the ongoing threat of ransomware, the impact of which costs the UK dearly.

“I was privileged to work in GCHQ a few years ago, so I know I am again joining a world-class team of people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of skills, who share a singular focus on making our country safer, more secure, and more prosperous. I am passionate about continuing to ensure that GCHQ is an organisation where everyone can perform to their very best.

“I am so grateful for the vision and dedication Sir Jeremy Fleming has shown during his tenure, and the ways in which GCHQ has transformed under his leadership. I look forward to building on this in the months and years to come. I can’t wait to get started.”

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.”

Outgoing GCHQ Director Sir Jeremy Fleming added: “Anne’s appointment is fantastic news for the organisation. I have worked with Anne for decades and think she is a brilliant choice with deep experience of intelligence and security in today’s technology-driven world.”

As Deputy Director General, Anne is currently responsible for MI5’s operational, investigative, and protective security work, which includes the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before that, she served as Director General Strategy, overseeing the enabling functions which support MI5’s operational activities.

Anne brings to the new role a combined total of thirty years’ experience in national security, many of which associated with GCHQ. She previously spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as Head of Counter Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime, and has also been on secondment in Whitehall, where she helped to launch the National Cyber Security Programme.

Read more - Director of GCHQ receives Honorary Doctorate of Science