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MI5 spook becomes the first female head of GCHQ intelligence agency

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A top MI5 agent who led the security service's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been announced as the new head of GCHQ.

Anne Keast-Butler will replace Sir Jeremy Fleming as director of Government Communications Headquarters next month, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly confirmed today.

Ms Keast-Butler is currently Deputy Director General of MI5 and was responsible for 'preparation for and response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine'.

The Oxford-educated married mother-of-three and dog lover, who grew up in Cambridge, was previously seconded to the Cheltenham-based intelligence service as its Head of Counter Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime.

While there she played a role in launching the National Cyber Security Programme.

She will take over as head of GCHQ when Sir Jeremy leaves after six years in charge, making her the security agency's 17th leader since its inception in 1919. 

A colleague of Ms Keast-Butler told the BBC: 'She didn't get the top post because she's a woman, she got it simply because she's bloody good at her job.' 

GCHQ said that in her 30-year career working in national security Ms Keast-Butler had held 'key operational roles' in intelligence.

She said she was 'delighted' to be appointed to the top job and 'can't wait to get started'.

Ms Keast-Butler also described GCHQ's mission 'as inspiring today as it was when it was founded'.

Ms Keast-Butler is currently Deputy Director General of MI5 and was responsible for 'preparation for and response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine'.

Ms Keast-Butler is currently Deputy Director General of MI5 and was responsible for 'preparation for and response to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine'. 

She will replace Sir Jeremy Fleming as director of Government Communications Headquarters next month

She will replace Sir Jeremy Fleming as director of Government Communications Headquarters next month

Mr 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.'

Ms Keast-Butler added: '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. 

'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.' 

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.' 

What are the priorities for the new director of GCHQ?

As the first female boss of GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler will take the helm at the intelligence agency as it responds to 'some of the most challenging issues of our time'.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the threat posed by China and fighting cyber attacks will all be high on a complex to-do list facing the next director as well as continued efforts to diversify the organisation.

- Russia and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

As her appointment was announced, Ms Keast-Butler said: '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.'

She highlighted how in the last year alone GCHQ had contributed 'vital intelligence to shape the West's response to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine', among other work.

Outgoing spy chief Sir Jeremy Fleming last year described Vladimir Putin's decision making during Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'flawed'.

He also told how the conflict represented a 'sea change' in the release of secret intelligence to inform public debate - with information revealed by western agencies helping to counter Moscow's narrative.

- Working with and against China

Ms Keast-Butler will also be faced with another challenge the security services are grappling with - the need to balance concerns about threats China may pose to national security against the reality that the country remains a key economic partner for the UK - particularly in a post-Brexit world.

Despite the potential immediate threat posed by Russia, Sir Jeremy previously told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that China was the 'real long-term threat' to UK national security - saying the country was 'deploying its ideologies in ways that we think are against our national interests'.

China is using science and technology as a way of bringing other countries 'into its sphere of influence', he warned.

Sir Jeremy said countries seeking economic support from China might find this comes with 'a lot of strings attached', such as the imposed adoption of Chinese technologies, suggesting it could have potential security implications.

- Cyber attacks and ransomware

Another key strand of work is the continued focus on cyber security - particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic amid a growing threat of cyber attacks when GCHQ worked to protect vaccine research targeted by hackers.

An arm of GCHQ known as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) leads on this work and last month director Lindy Cameron highlighted the importance of business bosses taking a hands-on approach to cyber security.

Ms Keast-Butler will also be taking on her role in the wake of more details being revealed about GCHQ's work with the Ministry of Defence to carry out daily cyber operations to protect the UK from threats, support military missions and fight serious crime.

Last week James Babbage, a GCHQ intelligence officer for nearly 30 years, was named publicly for the first time as the commander of the so-called National Cyber Force - which was launched in 2020 - in a bid to remove the secrecy behind some of this work.

The covert work is 'legal and ethical' but uses techniques 'that have the potential to sow distrust, decrease morale, and weaken' adversaries including disrupting terrorist groups and hostile state disinformation campaigns as well as removing child sexual abuse images from the internet and tackling attempts to interfere in democracy.

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