The British government named Mr John Scarlett as the new head of its MI6 spy agency today.
Mr Scarlett, who has spent his career in Britain's secret intelligence services, will take over from Sir Richard Dearlove to head the agency that deals with overseas intelligence, terror threats and banned weapons.
The appointment has raised eyebrows due to his previous involvement in a dossier on Iraq's weapons that sparked a political storm last year.
The Conservative Party immediately called his appointment "inappropriate" given his role in the Iraq dossier and some critics say he is too close to government.
As the chairman of the government's Joint Intelligence Committee, Mr Scarlett was responsible for the pre-war dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction that helped muster political and public support for the US-led invasion.
Mr Scarlett's appointment breaks with precedent, which would have given the post to Sir Richard's deputy.
But Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Scarlett had "the operational background, personal qualities and wide experience" to succeed Mr Dearlove.