Britain's MI6 foreign intelligence agency has announced that Alex Younger has been appointed as the new 'C', the head of the spy service.
Younger will take over from John Sawers as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) next month.
Little information is released about spy chiefs for security reasons.
Younger, an economics graduate and a former army officer, has been with the service since 1991.
He spent the last two years overseeing the service's intelligence operations worldwide.
He has had postings in Europe and the Middle East and was the senior MI6 officer in Afghanistan.
In Britain, he led the service's counter-terror work in the three years running up to the London 2012 Olympics.
"I am delighted and honoured to become chief of SIS and lead one of the best intelligence agencies in the world," Younger said.
"Our dedicated staff work tirelessly against an array of threats that this country faces. They do so in close partnership with both MI5 and GCHQ (the domestic and eavesdropping security services) with whom I am looking forward to co-operating closely.
"I would like to pay tribute to John Sawers for his lifetime's dedication to the country and particularly to his time as C.
"He brought us into a new era, and I am determined to build on this and bring my ideas for a modern service to life."
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who made the appointment, said the work of SIS was vital to Britain's safety and security.
"Alex brings a wealth of relevant experience including his work in Afghanistan and helping keep the country safe during the London 2012 Olympics," he said.
