Jeremy Fleming

Fleming studied economic and social history at the University of Bristol before training as a chartered accountant in the City of London. He later worked for the government practice arm of Deloitte, and was seconded from there in 1993 to MI5 under the pretext of a role at the Ministry of Defence.{{cite news |last1=Khalaf |first1=Roula |title=GCHQ's Jeremy Fleming: 'Xi doesn't want to see Putin humiliated' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7979924f-dfa3-4da2-adda-23c1dceda41c |access-date=27 May 2023 |work=Financial Times |date=26 May 2023}}

His initial role upon secondment was to make MI5's finances more transparent to parliamentary scrutiny.{{cite news |last1=Khalaf |first1=Roula |title=GCHQ's Jeremy Fleming: 'Xi doesn't want to see Putin humiliated' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7979924f-dfa3-4da2-adda-23c1dceda41c |access-date=27 May 2023 |work=Financial Times |date=26 May 2023}} He later gained extensive operational, investigative and leadership experience across the full range of national security work. He helped shape MI5's response to the London terrorist attacks in 2005, led the revision and publication of the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST and was promoted to Assistant Director General to lead MI5's preparations for the London 2012 Olympics.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/30/secret-texts-cast-light-uk-early-role-trump-russia-inquiry|title=Secret texts cast light on UK's early role in Trump-Russia inquiry|last1=Kirchgaessner|first1=Stephanie|date=2019-07-30|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-07-31|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190730124755/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/30/secret-texts-cast-light-uk-early-role-trump-russia-inquiry|archive-date=30 July 2019|url-status=live|last2=Hopkins|first2=Nick|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} He then spent four years as Deputy Director General with responsibility for all investigations and operations.

He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2017 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette|issue=61803|supp=y|page=N3|date=31 December 2016}}

In GCHQ, Fleming has overseen the further development of the National Cyber Security Centre with a mission to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online. It has become a world leader in bringing together Government, industry and international partners to address cyber threats and inform the public. Fleming has overseen a significant period of growth in the Agency, with the development of a strategic base in Manchester{{Cite web|title=GCHQ opening new Manchester base after concert terror attack|url=https://news.sky.com/story/gchq-opening-new-manchester-base-after-concert-terror-attack-11326330|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Sky News|language=en}} and a focus on diversity and inclusion. In 2019 he led GCHQ's centenary celebrations{{Cite web|date=2019-11-01|title=GCHQ marks 100 years by unveiling details of wartime spy work|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/01/gchq-marks-100-years-by-unveiling-details-of-wartime-spy-work|access-date=2021-06-11|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|author=Emily Dixon|date=2019-02-14|title=Queen unveils plaque with secret message at UK's codebreaking headquarters|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/14/uk/uk-queen-gchq-plaque-scli-gbr-intl/index.html|access-date=2021-06-11|website=CNN|language=en}} with the publication of a landmark official history.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-21|title=Behind the Enigma by John Ferris review – inside Britain's most secret intelligence agency|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/21/behind-the-enigma-by-john-ferris-review-inside-britains-most-secret-intelligence-agency|access-date=2021-06-11|website=the Guardian|language=en}} And in 2020, a new partnership with the Ministry of Defence was announced to create a National Cyber Force charged with delivering cyber operations.{{Cite web|title=National Cyber Force Transforms country's cyber capabilities to protect UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-cyber-force-transforms-countrys-cyber-capabilities-to-protect-uk|access-date=2021-06-11|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to national security.{{London Gazette|issue=63377|supp=y|page=B4|date=12 June 2021}}

He was Honorary Colonel of the Joint Service Signal Unit (Reserves) of the Royal Corps of Signals until August 2023.{{London Gazette |issue=64168 |supp=y |page=18189 |date=12 September 2023}}

In October 2018, Fleming described how the UK must continue to think strategically about its national response to the new generation of technology.{{Cite web|title=GCHQ Director speaks at the launch of the National Cyber Security Centre's second Annual Review|url=https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/gchq-director-speaks-launch-national-cyber-security-centres-second-annual-review|access-date=2021-06-11|website=www.gchq.gov.uk|language=en}} As part of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Fullerton Lecture Series in February 2019, he described the concept of cyber power - what that requires of a country, and the rules, regulations and ethics needed to exercise such power responsibly.{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Chloe|date=2019-02-25|title=China's role in 5G 'much bigger' than Huawei, British spy chief says|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/25/gchq-chief-addresses-risks-from-huawei-5g-and-chinese-technology.html|access-date=2021-06-11|website=CNBC|language=en}} Fleming built on this the following month when speaking to 29 member states at the NATO Cyber Defence Pledge conference, talking of the need to work together to tackle common threats and to be prepared for cyber attacks against their countries.{{Cite web|title=Director GCHQ addresses NATO Cyber Defence Pledge Conference 2019|url=https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/director-gchq-addresses-nato-cyber-defence-pledge-conference-2019|access-date=2021-06-11|website=www.gchq.gov.uk|language=en}} He stressed that a framework was needed that promotes the responsible projection of a nation's cyber capabilities. In June 2019, he touched on the role of GCHQ and the NCSC in protecting the Digital Homeland of the UK and in particular the work the organisations have done to keep businesses safe online He also encouraged businesses to work with government and academia to help create a more cyber literate population and to invest in the cyber and digital skills for the next generation.{{Cite web|title=Director GCHQ gives Mansion House Defence & Security Lecture 2019|url=https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/director-gchq-gives-mansion-house-defence---security-lecture-2019|access-date=2021-06-11|website=www.gchq.gov.uk|language=en}}

In his first public speech at CyberUK in April 2018, Fleming warned that the UK's adversaries were proactively using technology to further their cause and that the threats they face were changing constantly and becoming more complex.{{Cite web|title=Director's speech at CYBERUK 2018|url=https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/cyber-uk-fleming|access-date=2021-06-11|website=www.gchq.gov.uk|language=en}} Later that year at the Billington Cyber Security Summit he stressed the need to build secure technology in order to keep citizens, economies and societies safe.{{Cite web|title=GCHQ intelligence chief threatens 'brazen' Russia with UK's 'tools'|url=https://news.sky.com/story/gchq-intelligence-chief-threatens-brazen-russia-with-uks-tools-11492237|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Sky News|language=en}}

In April 2021 Fleming discussed the impact fundamental changes in the tech environment have had on the UK's economy and society, and the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated those trends at home but also enabled their adversaries in new ways. He also examined the challenges surrounding geopolitical competition in technology, and the need to reform the international approach to cyber and technology for the 21st century.{{Cite news|date=2021-04-22|title=GCHQ chief warns of tech 'moment of reckoning'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56851558|access-date=2021-06-11}}

In October 2022, Fleming warned in an interview of China's use of technology to attack satellite systems, to control digital currencies and to control dissent by tracking individuals. He also expressed concern over China's clientelist development strategies, the potential loss of the West's leadership in certain critical technologies, and its dependencies on Chinese state-linked enterprises.{{Cite news |last=Sanger |first=David E. |date=2022-10-10 |title=British Official Stresses Threat From China Even Amid Russian Aggression |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/10/us/politics/uk-gchq-china-russia.html |access-date=2022-10-11 |issn=0362-4331}}

On a visit to the Australian National University on 31 March 2022, Fleming talked about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He paid tribute to Ukrainian cyber security personnel, and pledged continued support.{{Cite news|date=2022-03-31|title=An address from GCHQ Director Sir Jeremy Fleming|language=en-GB|work=Australian National University|url=https://nsc.crawford.anu.edu.au/department-news/20103/address-gchq-director-sir-jeremy-fleming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011170105/https://nsc.crawford.anu.edu.au/department-news/20103/address-gchq-director-sir-jeremy-fleming |archive-date=2022-10-11 |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-04-08}}

In December 2022 Fleming was the Guest Editor on an edition of the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4.{{cite news|title=BBC Radio 4 announces Today Christmas guest editors|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63777454|publisher=BBC|date=28 November 2022}}

Fleming joined Mastercard as a senior security adviser in October 2023.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Paige |date=5 October 2023 |title=Mastercard Hires Former UK Spy Chief to Advise on Security |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-05/mastercard-hires-former-uk-spy-chief-to-advise-on-security |publisher=Bloomberg News}}

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| title = Director of GCHQ

| years = 2017 – 2023

| before = Robert Hannigan

| after =Anne Keast-Butler

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Category:Directors of the Government Communications Headquarters

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:MI5 personnel

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath