14 DAY TRIAL // The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has appointed Dr. Jamie Saunders as the National Cyber Crime Unit’s new director. Saunders was appointed on April 25 following an open competition.
Before becoming director of the NCCU, Saunders was the director of International Cyber Policy for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). He occupied the position since January 2012.
“I am delighted to be joining the National Crime Agency. Having worked closely with NCCU colleagues over the past two and a half years, I appreciate both the skills and expertise of the team, and the scale of the challenge we are facing. I look forward to leading the unit in the next phase of our fight against the scourge of cybercrime,” Saunders said.
Since he started his carrier, in 1988, when he joined the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Saunders has undertaken various policy, technical and operational management roles. He has over 10 years of experience in cyber-related fields.
“Jamie has extensive experience in the cyber field at a national level. This is a significant leadership role and I am confident that Jamie will lead the collective law enforcement effort against the rapidly changing threats of cyber and cyber enabled crime. We are delighted to welcome him to our senior team,” commented Keith Bristow, the director general of the NCA.
The NCCU’s role is to respond quickly to cyber threats and collaborate with other bodies on reducing cybercrime.