Rainer Saks, the sitting Director General of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, will resign as of 1 December, as he will assume the duties of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Should the Government of the Republic authorise Mikk Marran to office, he will assume the duties of Director General as of 1 January 2016.
The candidate for the position of the new Director General was also unanimously approved at Monday’s sitting of the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee of the Riigikogu.
Defence Minister Hannes Hanso said that Mikk Marran is a very capable leader and an outstanding expert on security matters.
“Marran has worked extensively for the defence of Estonia and has ensured that this nation can punch above its weight in the international arena on the basis of our population and macro indicators, “ said Hanso. “For several years, Marran has led the discussion over the need for the presence of allies, and he has assured sustainable development of the governance area through realistic and insightful planning."
According to Mikk Marran, the position of the Director General of the Estonian Information Board is a huge responsibility and challenge. "The Foreign Intelligence Service acts as the front line of our national defence, where the perseverance, wisdom and cooperation of the staff are of great significance. Most of it stays hidden from the public but this does not make the work of the agency less important," said Marran. “Intelligence and early warning have a clear priority in the development of our national defence. This is manifested both in actual investments and staff development.”
Mikk Marran has been the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence since 1 January 2011. He began his career in the Defence Ministry in 1999 and has also worked as head of several departments and as the Undersecretary for Defence Investments. From 2006 to 2009, Marran worked as the Defence Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO.
Mikk Marran holds a Master’s degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defence University in the United States. He acquired a BA degree in Public Administration from the Social Sciences Faculty of Tallinn University.
Mikk Marran has been awarded with the third class of the Order of the White Star by the President of the Republic of Estonia, the second class of the Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence and has twice received the Cross of Merit of the Estonian Defence Forces.
The Estonian Information Board is a security authority within the area of governance of the Ministry of Defence, which ensures national security by the continuance of constitutional order through the application of non-military means of prevention. The Estonian Information Board collects and processes information necessary for formulating security policy and for national defence, and it cooperates with the Estonian Internal Security Service in order to prevent offences against the state.
