Céline Berthon, second in command of the French National Police (DGPN), was appointed head of domestic intelligence agency (DGSI), becoming the first woman to hold such sensitive position in France, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on X platform (former Twitter).
Berthon succeeds Nicolas Lerner who left to head foreign intelligence agency (DGSE). She was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron after Darmanin proposed her for the job.
The Interior Minister twitted that Berthon is an outstanding police member, a fact that enabled her to run one of the most sensitive government departments of France.
The former number two of the national police was a student at France’s Police College (Ecole nationale supérieure de la police –ENSP). She was a police chief at the city of Yvelines and director of the office of Frédéric Veaux, head of the National Police, according to reports by local media.
She is described by colleagues as hardworking, competent and skillful, and can handle delicate matters.