AFP
France appointed its first woman domestic intelligence chief Wednesday, with top police officer Celine Berthon stepping up to head the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI).
The 5,000-strong organisation plays a key role in counter-espionage, fighting terrorism and cybercrime.
The rise of Berthon, 47, has been meteoric.
She became number two of France's national police only in April after being the first woman -- and the youngest person -- ever to lead its frontline operations in 2021.
Berthon had previously headed the police commissioners' union.
- 'The Bureau' -
The policewoman replaces Nicolas Lerner, who is taking over France's DGSE foreign espionage service made famous by the fictional hit series "The Bureau".
His appointment is also historic -- the first time that a former head of the DGSI has become chief of France's foreign intelligence agency.
Lerner, a 45-year-old civil servant, graduated from the elite graduate school ENA.
The 5,000-strong organisation plays a key role in counter-espionage, fighting terrorism and cybercrime.
The rise of Berthon, 47, has been meteoric.
She became number two of France's national police only in April after being the first woman -- and the youngest person -- ever to lead its frontline operations in 2021.
Berthon had previously headed the police commissioners' union.
- 'The Bureau' -
The policewoman replaces Nicolas Lerner, who is taking over France's DGSE foreign espionage service made famous by the fictional hit series "The Bureau".
His appointment is also historic -- the first time that a former head of the DGSI has become chief of France's foreign intelligence agency.
Lerner, a 45-year-old civil servant, graduated from the elite graduate school ENA.
