Sir John Anthony Adye KCMG (born 24 October 1939) is a former Director of the British signals intelligence agency, GCHQ, a post he held from 1989 to 1996.[1]
Career[edit]
Adye was born to Arthur Francis Capel Adye and Hilda Marjorie (née Elkes). Educated at Leighton Park School and Lincoln College, Oxford,[2] Adye joined GCHQ in 1962 becoming Director in 1989. After retiring from GCHQ in 1996, he served as the chair of the Country Houses Association until 2002.[3] In 1993 Adye was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.[1] In 2005 he was appointed to the board of the US National Biometric Security Project.[3]
Adye was a witness in February 2008 at the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales: in an unprecedented move (normal policy is neither to confirm nor deny operational activities), he strenuously denied that GCHQ had any involvement in either the Camillagate or Squidgygate tapes.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Adye, Sir John (Anthony), (born 24 Oct. 1939), Director, Government Communications Headquarters, 1989–96", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u5064, retrieved 2021-08-03
- ^ Burke's Peerage
- ^ a b National Biometric Security Project
- ^ Diana's calls 'not bugged by GCHQ' Metro, 28 February 2008