Death announced of former MI5 DG Dame Stella Rimington
Former MI5 Director General Dame Stella Rimington has died aged 90.
Born in 1935, Dame Stella joined MI5 in 1969. She had a varied career including roles in counter-subversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism and she was the first woman in MI5 to be promoted to the rank of branch director. In 1992 Dame Stella was appointed Director General, becoming the first female head of MI5. The following year Dame Stella became the first Director General to be publicly avowed.
MI5 underwent far-reaching transformation under Dame Stella’s leadership. She oversaw MI5 taking lead responsibility for countering Irish republican terrorism in Great Britain, the move of MI5’s headquarters to Thames House, and instituted a policy of greater public openness to demystify the work of MI5 including beginning a programme of releasing MI5 files to The National Archives.
Dame Stella retired from MI5 in 1996 and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath later that year. She published her autobiography, Open Secret, in 2001, and later published several novels set in the world of intelligence and counter-terrorism.
Current MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum offered his condolences on behalf of the entire organisation: “Dame Stella was the first publicly avowed Director General of MI5. Her leadership ushered in a new era of openness and transparency about the work MI5 does to keep this country safe, a legacy that continues to this day.
“As the first avowed female head of any intelligence agency in the world, Dame Stella broke through long-standing barriers and was a visible example of the importance of diversity in leadership.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her husband, two daughters and extended family.”