Robert Hannigan

Biography

Robert Hannigan joined the FCO as Director General, Defence and Intelligence on 29 March 2010. For a number of years he has advised the Prime Minister on counter terrorism, intelligence and security policy.

Robert joined the Civil Service from the private sector, becoming Director of Communications for the Northern Ireland Office. He was then appointed to be:

• principal adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and various Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland on the peace process, with responsibility for negotiations with the political parties and other groups, and liaison with the Irish Government and US Administration
• the Prime Minister’s Security Adviser and Head of Intelligence, Security, and Resilience in the Cabinet Office from 2007, with responsibility for the UK National Security Strategy