Richard Moore, the former UK ambassador to Turkey, has been named the new head of the country’s intelligence agency, MI6, replacing Sir Alex Younger, according to Sky News.
He is currently political director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
“I am pleased and honored to be asked to return to lead my service,” Moore said.
“SIS [the Secret Intelligence Service] plays a vital role — with MI5 and GCHQ — in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas.
“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave and dedicated team at SIS.”
The father of two who was born in Libya and speaks fluent Turkish, has also previously held director roles in SIS and has been deputy national security adviser at the Cabinet Office.
He first joined SIS, the UK’s foreign intelligence service, in 1987.
Moore’s FCO profile also said he had had postings in Vietnam and Turkey between 1990 and 1992 as well as in Pakistan and Malaysia.
Moore had attracted attention in Turkey’s social media sphere while he was assigned to Ankara between January 2014 and December 2017, gaining the admiration of Turks with his fluent Turkish and strong support for İstanbul’s Beşiktaş football club.