Woman behind MI5's response to Ukraine invasion to be GCHQ's first female director
A woman will become the boss of GCHQ for the first time in its more than 100-year history next month.
Anne Keast-Butler has been appointed to succeed Sir Jeremy Fleming as the next head of the UK's intelligence, security and cyber agency.
Ms Keast-Butler is currently deputy director-general at MI5, where she has been responsible for the security service's operational, investigative and protective security work, including its response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Ms Keast-Butler said she is "delighted" to have been appointed to the role at GCHQ.
She added: "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."
'Can't wait to get started'
"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," she said.
"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."
'Ideal candidate'
Ms Keast-Butler has spent 30 years working in national security.
Before holding senior security service roles at MI5, she spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as head of counter-terrorism and serious organised crime, and also worked in Whitehall over the last decade, during which time she helped launch the National Cyber Security Programme.
Sir Jeremy said: "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."
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."
National Security Adviser Sir Tim Barrow said Ms Keast-Butler was an "exceptional candidate in a talented field" and thanked Sir Jeremy for his service, adding: "Jeremy's insights and analysis have been hugely valuable through one of the most demanding periods of our recent history."
Join Our Newsletter
