Andreas von Beckerath to lead Sweden’s new intelligence service

Andreas von Beckerath will become director-general and head of Sweden’s new foreign intelligence service, known as Und, SVT reports. The government announced his appointment on Friday.

Von Beckerath is currently the EU ambassador in Belgrade. Annika Brändström has been appointed deputy director-general of the new agency.

“I am pleased that Andreas von Beckerath and Annika Brändström have agreed to lead Sweden’s foreign intelligence service,” Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said in a government press release.

“They have extensive experience in foreign and security policy and are highly suited to building the new organisation and developing its operations in a way that strengthens Sweden’s intelligence capabilities in both the short and long term,” she said.

The plan is for the agency to begin operating at the turn of the year.