Celine Berthon made France’s first woman spy agency chief

Celine Berthon 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

By AFP
December 21, 2023

PARIS: France appointed its first woman domestic intelligence chief on Wednesday, with top police officer Celine Berthon stepping up to head the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI).

Syndicat Commissaires Police Nationale General Secretary, Celine Berthon attends the ceremony where French Policeman Arnaud Beldon, injured during the November 13 Paris attacks is awarded by Chevalier de la Legion d´Honneur by the French interior minister in Paris. — AFP/File
Syndicat Commissaires Police Nationale General Secretary, Celine Berthon attends the ceremony where French Policeman Arnaud Beldon, injured during the November 13 Paris attacks is awarded by Chevalier de la Legion d´Honneur by the French interior minister in Paris. — AFP/File

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.