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Former MI6 Chief Sir Alex Younger Dies at 62

6/5/2026

Summary

Alex Younger Dies

Sir Alex Younger, former MI6 chief, died at 62 in Boston after prostate cancer.
He led MI6 from October 2014 to 2020, the longest tenure in 50 years.
During his term MI6 tackled ISIS, 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, 2018 Salisbury nerve-agent attack and Brexit-related security threats.
He introduced a “fourth-generation espionage” model blending human and cyber intelligence, was knighted in 2019 and later advised Goldman Sachs on security and cyber matters.

Summary

Alex Younger Dies

Prince William, who interned with UK intelligence in 2019, said Younger embodied integrity, courage and commitment to protecting the country.
BBC journalist Nick Robinson posted on X that Younger’s death was “desperately sad.”
In the House of Commons, Alex Burghart noted the former chief died suddenly during the debate.
He was among the first MI6 chiefs whose codename “C” was publicly disclosed, ending anonymity.

History

Historical Context

On 6 May 2004 it was announced that Sir John Scarlett, former JIC chairman, would replace Sir Richard Dearlove as head of MI6, marking the agency’s first post-Cold-War re-orientation. The shift followed the 1994 Intelligence Services Act’s push for functional priorities and parliamentary scrutiny, a trend continued by successors Sir John Sawers (2009) and Sir Alex Younger (2014-2020), whose chiefs are known as “C”.

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Alex Younger Dies

Sir Alex Younger, former MI6 chief, died at 62 in Boston after prostate cancer.
He led MI6 from October 2014 to 2020, the longest tenure in 50 years.
During his term MI6 tackled ISIS, 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, 2018 Salisbury nerve-agent attack and Brexit-related security threats.
He introduced a “fourth-generation espionage” model blending human and cyber intelligence, was knighted in 2019 and later advised Goldman Sachs on security and cyber matters.

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