Tributes as GCHQ chief says he wants to depart

THE HEAD of spy agency GCHQ has announced he is to step down after just over two years in the post – sparking a search for candidates to take over one of the most senior roles in British intelligence.

Robert Hannigan informed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson of his intention to leave the role for personal reasons.

He spoke of his pride at how many lives had been saved by the agency’s work and its “relentless” efforts to counter terrorism, crime and other threats.

The 51-year-old, who was raised in Yorkshire, said he has been “lucky enough to have some extraordinary roles in public service over the last 20 years”, adding: “But they have all demanded a great deal of my ever patient and understanding family, and now is the right time for a change in direction.”

Mr Hannigan was director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign Office before he succeeded Sir Iain Lobban at GCHQ.

His tenure at the Cheltenhambased agency started in November 2014, following a period of intense scrutiny of its work sparked by revelations by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

GCHQ is often referred to as Britain’s listening post.

Its activities have taken on particular significance in recent years as terrorists use increasingly sophisticated technology to avoid detection, while the threat from cyber crime has evolved.

In a letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Hannigan wrote: “After a good deal of thought, I have decided that this is the right time to move on and to allow someone else to lead GCHQ through its next phase.

“I am, like you, a great enthusiast for our history and I think it is right that a new director should be firmly embedded by our centenary in 2019.

“I am very committed to GCHQ’s future and will of course be happy to stay in post until you have been able to appoint a successor.”

Mr Hannigan, a married father-of-two, was born in Gloucestershire and studied classics at Wadham College, Oxford.

He described leading the men and women of GCHQ as a “great privilege”.

He wrote: “I am proud of what we have achieved in those years, not least setting up the National Cyber Security Centre and building greater public understanding of our intelligence work.

“I am equally proud of the relentless 24-hour operational ef- fort against terrorism, crime and many other national security threats.

“While this work must remain secret, you will know how many lives have been saved in this country and overseas by the work of GCHQ.

“Underpinning this is our world-class technology and, above all, our brilliant people.

“As you know, I have also initiated the greatest internal change within GCHQ for 30 years, and I feel that we are now well on the way to being fit for the next generation of security challenges to the UK in the digital age.”

Mr Johnson said: “You have led the renewal of some of our most important national security capabilities, which we continue to depend on every day to save lives from terrorism and to protect our interests and values.”

An internal competition will be carried out to identify candidates for the job.

2 The number of years Robert Hannigan was in post at GCHQ