Brian Lord OBE (born December 1965) is the former deputy director for intelligence and cyber operations at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in Cheltenham, England. As of 2020[update] he is CEO at Protection Group International, an international consultancy specialising in helping organisations build digital resilience.
Brian Lord | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1965 Bradford |
| Education | Bradford Grammar School |
Early life
editBrian Lord was born in Bradford in December 1965,[1] he is the son of a computer programmer and a teacher of mathematics and was educated at Bradford Grammar School (1972-1984).
Career
editLord worked for GCHQ for 21 years before leaving as deputy director for intelligence and cyber operations. He was awarded the OBE in the 2005 New Year Honours.[2][3] In September 2013, he joined PGI Protection Group International, a consultancy specialising in cyber security and risk consulting, where he held the role of managing director, cyber and he is now CEO.[4] He has been described by The Telegraph as a "leading thinker in the sector of cyber warfare".[5]
In October 2017, Lord was cleared of a charge of sexual assault at Gloucester Crown Court after prosecutors did not present any evidence, but did plead guilty to common assault after placing his hand on a woman's knee for 2 – 3 minutes at a party in 2016.[5][6] He is believed to be the first person in British legal history to be charged with common assault with the particulars being "Assault by touching [the defendant] on her knee."[7] According to his lawyer, three judges had questioned whether it was in the public interest to continue with the case in view of its "minor nature".[8]
References
edit- ^ Brian R Lord England and Wales Birth Registration Index. Family Search. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Order of the British Empire", The Times, 31 December 2004, p. 69. The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ The London Gazette, 31 December 2004, Supplement No. 1, N24.
- ^ Our Team. Archived 2017-10-01 at the Wayback Machine Protection Group International. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ a b Former GCHQ chief fined after admitting assault during 'sexualised' game at dinner party. Harry Yorke, The Telegraph, 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ Ex-GCHQ boss Brian Lord admits Truth or Dare assault. BBC News, 4 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ Former GCHQ director Brian Lord cleared of sex assault. Neil Johnston, The Times, 5 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017. (subscription required)
- ^ Former deputy director of GCHQ fined for assault in 'racy party game'. John Hawkins, GloucestershireLive, 4 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.