Sir Richard Billing Dearlove KCMG, OBE served as Chief (known as 'C') of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) from August 1999 until his retirement in July 2004. For the preceding five years he was Director of Operations and, from 1998, Assistant Chief. As Director of Finance, Administration and Personnel he also oversaw the move of SIS into its Headquarter Building at Vauxhall Cross in 1994. He is a career intelligence officer of thirty-eight years standing and has served in Nairobi, Prague, Paris, Geneva and Washington as well as in a number of key London-based posts.

Sir Richard was elected the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 2004. Pembroke College, founded in 1347 is the University's third oldest College. During Sir Richard's eleven-year tenure the College was notably successful. He retired from this post in July 2015.

He is Chair of Trustees of the University of London, a trustee of Kent School, Connecticut, Honorary Fellow of Queens' College Cambridge, Senior Adviser to several international companies, including the revamped AIG, Chairman of Ascot Underwriting and a Director of Kosmos Energy.

He is married to Rosalind, Lady Dearlove. They have two sons and a daughter.