Stella Rimington

Dame Stella Rimington
Rimington in 2016
Born
Stella Whitehouse

(1935-05-13)13 May 1935
South London, England
Died3 August 2025(2025-08-03) (aged 90)
Alma mater
Occupations
Spouse
(m. 1963; sep. 1984)
Children2
Espionage activity
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service branchMI5
Service years1967–1996
RankDirector General of MI5

Dame Stella Rimington (née Whitehouse; 13 May 1935 – 3 August 2025) was a British author and Director General of MI5, a position she held from 1992 to 1996. She was the first female Director General of MI5, and the first Director General whose name was publicised on appointment. In 1993, Rimington became the first Director General of MI5 to pose openly for photos at the launch of a brochure outlining the organisation's activities.