Spy partner GCHQ reveals the name of its new leader
GCHQ, the government agency accused by Donald Trump's administration of spying on him, has revealed who will take over as its new head.
Jeremy Fleming, the deputy director general of MI5 since 2013, has been appointed by foreign secretary Boris Johnson to take over from Robert Hannigan as the director of GCHQ this Easter.
Read more: US makes formal apology to UK about GCHQ claims
Johnson congratulated Fleming on his appointment "at an important time for the service".
He added: "Skill and ingenuity of the UK intelligence community are critical to defending Britain from cyber-attacks, terror plots and other activities that threaten us and our allies."
Last week, eavesdropping organisation GCHQ rejected claims made on US TV that it had assisted Trump's predecessor Barack Obama to spy on the US President during last year's election.
Read more: GCHQ denies wire-tapping US President Donald Trump
Hannigan announced he was stepping down in January, with national security adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant, was charged with the responsibility of finding his successor. He said: "Jeremy Fleming emerged from a strong and competitive field as the outstanding candidate to become the next director, GCHQ."
He is a national security professional of the highest standard, who is widely respected across the national security community, in the UK and overseas.