Former British intelligence chief Sir Alex Younger succumbed to cancer on Tuesday at the age of 62. He served as head of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), widely known as MI6, from 2014 to 2020.
Younger has had a decorated career in the British military and intelligence services spanning more than three decades. The late veteran joined the Army in 1991 and held posts in the Middle East, Europe and Afghanistan.
After retiring in 2020, he became a leading commentator on global security and was known for his forward-looking analysis of modern geopolitical and cyber threats.
One of Younger’s most notable contributions to British intelligence was shifting its focus from old-school cloak-and-dagger technique to “fourth generation espionage.”
He stressed that modern-age intelligence relies heavily on technology, cybersecurity and big data, adding that British intelligence needs to adapt to meet evolving global threats.
In his famous 2016 speech, the military veteran said that the fictional character James Bond would not pass the agency’s recruitment process, highlighting the extremely difficult terrain of becoming an MI6 agent.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to the former intelligence chief, saying: “Sir Alex led an exemplary life and career. He will be remembered for his utmost dedication to British public life and the protection of our nation.”
The current head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, also paid heartfelt tribute to his predecessor, saying he embodied the values of “integrity, courage, creativity and respect”.
Alex Younger was knighted in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He was awarded the honor of Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for his distinguished services to the United Kingdom, specifically recognizing his career in intelligence and his tenure as Head of MI6 from 2014 to 2020.
