Tom Hurd
Tom Hurd (spook?, banker, diplomat, terrorism expert) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Nationality | UK | ||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||
Parents | • Douglas Hurd • Tatiana Eyre | ||||||||||||||||||
Member of | Credit Suisse | ||||||||||||||||||
Interests | • Middle East • “terrorism” | ||||||||||||||||||
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Thomas Hurd was appointed Director General of The Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in January 2016, when it was announced that he would take up the post in April 2016.[1]
As of 2018, NNDB had no page for him, but reported him on the page of his father (Douglas Hurd) as "rumoured MI6", after his name appeared on a list of suspected MI6 operatives which was published anonymously on the Internet.[2]
In May 2020, Tom Hurd was parachuted in to take temporary charge of the newly established Joint Biosecurity Centre, responsible for assessing Covid-19 threat levels. He is considered the frontrunner to to take over after Sir Alex Younger retires from MI6, once the JBC is established.[3]
Background
Thomas Hurd was born to Tatiana Hurd (nee Eyre) and Douglas Hurd (a conservative politician, later to be a two time Bilderberg attender and President of Chatham House). He graduated in Arabic and Modern Middle Eastern Studies from Oxford University.[4]
Career
Hurd worked for Credit Suisse for four years before joining the Foreign Office. "Hurd joined the Home Office from the UN Security Council in New York".[4]
Tom Hurd "has held a number of senior posts in the fields of security and counter-terrorism and is an expert in Middle Eastern affairs, having worked as a senior diplomat with responsibility for the region. He received an OBE in 2006."[5]
"Tom has extensive experience working in counter-terrorism and security. He is also an expert in Middle Eastern affairs, having worked as a senior diplomat with responsibility for the region."[6] Commenting on his appointment as Director General of The Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, Mr Hurd said "It is a privilege to join the Home Office. I look forward to working with colleagues across government, law enforcement and the security services to drive the UK’s response to the threats of terrorism and organised crime."[5]
Related Document
Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
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Document:Senior spy appointed to lead UK’s joint biosecurity centre | Article | 5 June 2020 | Helen Warrell Sarah Neville | Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at Edinburgh University, says: “The virus is not worried that you’re tracking its progress, it’s not going to change its tactic. Cybersecurity is not your worry with a virus. It’s a biological phenomenon.” |
References
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-director-general-for-office-of-security-and-counter-terrorism-appointed
- ↑ http://www.nndb.com/people/860/000164368/ "Douglas Hurd"]
- ↑ "Senior counter-terror official put in charge of new UK biosecurity centre"
- ↑ a b https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/debretts-500-list-war-peace/
- ↑ a b https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-director-general-for-office-of-security-and-counter-terrorism-appointed
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tom-hurd