Ciaran Martin

Martin in 2017

Ciaran Liam Martin, CB (born 19 September 1974), is a British professor and former CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). In September 2020[1] he was appointed Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.[2]

Life

Martin was appointed as head of cyber security at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in December 2013. He recommended the establishment of a UK National Cyber Security Centre within the intelligence and security agency. This was agreed by the Government and announced by the Chancellor George Osborne in November 2015. Martin became the first Chief Executive in February 2016, and it became operational in October of that year. On 14 February 2017, the NCSC's new headquarters in Victoria in Central London were opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

Prior to joining GCHQ, Martin was Constitution Director at the Cabinet Office from 2011, helping to agree the framework for the Scottish independence referendum. From 2008 to 2011, he was Director of Security and Intelligence at the Cabinet Office. His public service career has also included a series of roles in elsewhere in the Cabinet Office and in HM Treasury and the National Audit Office (NAO).

He was a member of the GCHQ Board. He is a past pupil of Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, where he was very much seen as an all-rounder, being head-boy, a member of the MacRory Cup Gaelic football squad and keyboard player with indie rock outfit "Some Kind of Wonderful". He is a graduate of Hertford College, University of Oxford, where he studied History.[3][4][5]

Martin was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to international and global cyber security.[6]

Martin had planned on resigning in June 2020 but delayed his resignation until August because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] He was succeeded by Lindy Cameron.[8]

In December 2002, Martin was the 'phone a friend' for Declan Montague on an episode of the ITV gameshow Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Cook, James (21 September 2020). "Britain's top cyber spy Ciaran Martin steps out of the shadows". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23.
  2. ^ "Leading figure in cybersecurity to join Blavatnik School". 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06.
  3. ^ "Ciaran Martin outlines how the NCSC aims to reduce the cyber threat - NCSC Site". www.ncsc.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  4. ^ "Ciaran Martin - GCHQ - Root - Infosecurity Europe". www.infosecurityeurope.com. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Even Britain's most senior cyber security chief thinks public guidelines on passwords are ridiculous". Independent.co.uk. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  6. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N3.
  7. ^ Strasburg, Jenny (2020-05-05). "U.K. Cybersecurity Chief Pivots to New Coronavirus Threats". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  8. ^ "NCSC announces Lindy Cameron as new CEO". www.ncsc.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-22.