Sir Richard Dearlove

About

Sir Richard Dearlove

Originally from Cornwall, Sir Richard Dearlove was the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, from 1999 to 2004. With a career spanning over thirty-eight years in British Intelligence, Sir Richard rose to Chief, known as “C”, after serving as a frontline case officer behind the Iron Curtain, in Geneva and Paris, in Africa and as station head in Washington D.C. The completion of the Service’s world-renowned HQ building, on the River Thames in London, was overseen by Sir Richard, where he went on to serve as Director of Operations. Including the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the crisis of 9/11 and a terrorist attack on SIS’ headquarters, Sir Richard’s time as Chief of MI6 was marked by dramatic events.

Sir Richard was elected the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 2004. Pembroke College, founded in 1347 is the University’s third oldest College.  During Sir Richard’s eleven-year tenure the College has been notably successful.

National Security issues and World Affairs are two of the topics that Sir Richard regularly lectures on. His approach has gained him international attention. He is proud to share his extraordinarily varied experience from growing up in a fishing village to rising to international prominence in the world of Security and Intelligence.

Sir Richard is also Chairman of Ascot Underwriting, Chair of the Trustees of London University, a Director of Kosmos Energy and holds several advisory roles. When he is not working, Sir Richard enjoys painting, fly-fishing and time spent in rural Cornwall.

Kruger Cowne Speaker Awards: Security Speaker of the Year 2017, International Affairs Speaker of the Year 2016.