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New director of GCHQ appointed |
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Iain Lobban has been named as the new Director of GCHQ. He will take over from Sir David Pepper at the end of July 2008 following Sir David's retirement. The next Director of GCHQ will be Iain Lobban, an appointment confirmed by Foreign Secretary David Miliband and approved by the Prime Minister. In announcing the appointment the Foreign Secretary paid tribute to the career-long commitment of Sir David Pepper in transforming GCHQ to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He welcomed Iain Lobban's appointment to succeed Sir David and continue to take forward GCHQ's vital work. Sir David Pepper commented: "I am delighted by this appointment. Iain is a consummate GCHQ professional and an excellent leader. I can think of nobody as well qualified to lead the organisation at this time of exciting but demanding change. I wish him, and GCHQ under his leadership, every success." Iain joined GCHQ in 1983 and has spent most of his career delivering intelligence in support of the UK's national security. He joined the GCHQ Board in 2001 when he led the latter stages of the New Accommodation Project, culminating in the successful transition of GCHQ's business into the new headquarters building at Benhall – built under the Private Finance Initiative. He took up his current position of Director-General Operations in early 2004 and is responsible for intelligence production and the development of GCHQ's partnerships with national and international agencies within the intelligence community. In the 2006 New Year Honours List Iain was appointed to the Order of the Companion of the Bath (CB) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the national security of the UK. A graduate of Leeds University specialising in languages, Iain also attended the Ministry of Defence's prestigious staff college at Shrivenham, graduating from the Higher Command and Staff course. A married man, he lists his leisure interests as football (he is an avid Everton supporter), cricket, photography, travel and music. Commenting on his new role, Mr Lobban said: "I feel tremendously privileged to be taking over from David Pepper at the end of July. GCHQ is poised to deliver unprecedented levels of service to help protect the UK, through a combination of cutting edge technology and highly skilled people. I look forward to working with them to continue to take GCHQ forward in the direction so successfully established by David." 9 June 2008 |
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