Blaise Metreweli becomes MI6’s first female chief, taking over from Sir Richard Moore this autumn.

For the first time in its 116-year history, MI6 will be led by a woman. Keir Starmer has appointed Blaise Metreweli as chief of the UK’s foreign intelligence service, marking a groundbreaking moment for British espionage.

Metreweli, 47, is a career intelligence officer who has spent over two decades within the shadowy world of British security. She joined MI6 in 1999 and currently heads its technology and innovation division, known internally as Q section, a nod to the famed gadget-master from the James Bond films. Before that, she held multiple director-level positions across both MI6 and domestic security agency MI5.

Her appointment follows the upcoming departure of Sir Richard Moore, who has led MI6 since 2020. Moore’s five-year tenure saw him navigate a string of global crises, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, about which MI6 had issued warnings in both public and private forums.

Speaking from Banff, where he was attending meetings with security allies, Starmer hailed Metreweli’s appointment. “The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital. The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale, be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber-plots seek to disrupt our public services.”

Metreweli herself expressed pride at taking the helm. “I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service. MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas. I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”

Educated at Cambridge University, where she studied social anthropology, Metreweli has spent much of her operational career in the Middle East and Europe. Last year, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in recognition of her service.

Her appointment follows a tradition of increasingly public-facing intelligence chiefs. By convention, the MI6 chief is known simply as “C,” and uniquely among officers, is publicly named. Over recent years, MI6 chiefs have gradually adopted more visible roles, occasionally delivering public speeches and maintaining a limited presence on social media.

Unlike MI6, Britain’s other major spy agencies have previously been led by women. MI5 was headed by Stella Rimington and Eliza Manningham-Buller, while GCHQ appointed Anne Keast-Butler as its first female chief last year. But in MI6’s long history since its founding in 1909, no woman has previously occupied the top post — until now.

Metreweli’s promotion has drawn inevitable comparisons to fiction. Judi Dench famously portrayed “M”, James Bond’s boss, for 17 years in the iconic film series. Yet in real life, MI6’s Q division — the tech branch Metreweli currently runs — has seen at least two women serve as its head.

Sir Richard Moore, whom she replaces, came to MI6 from a diplomatic background, serving nearly four years as ambassador to Turkey, where he built close ties with President Erdoğan. His experience offered a blend of diplomacy and intelligence, whereas Metreweli’s career has been forged entirely within Britain’s intelligence apparatus.

Her leadership comes at a critical moment for Britain’s national security. The UK faces evolving threats from hostile states, cyber warfare, and global terrorism. Metreweli’s deep expertise in both operational intelligence and cutting-edge technology places her at the heart of these modern challenges.

As she steps into one of Britain’s most secretive and demanding roles, Metreweli will now shoulder responsibility for managing MI6’s global network of spies and covert operations, ensuring the country remains one step ahead in an increasingly unpredictable world.

SKY NEWS

Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to lead MI6, marking a historic milestone for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service. Announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Metreweli will replace Sir Richard Moore as Chief (“C”) this autumn. Starmer praised her appointment, highlighting growing security threats, including cyberattacks and foreign espionage. Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 in 1999 and has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer, with extensive operational experience in the Middle East and Europe. She currently serves as Director General “Q”, overseeing technology and innovation, a role famously associated with spy gadgets in James Bond films. Unlike her predecessor, Metreweli has not served as a diplomat. She previously held a senior post at MI5. With this appointment, both MI6 and GCHQ now have female leaders; Anne Keast-Butler took charge of GCHQ in 2023. Dame Judi Dench’s fictional portrayal of “M” had previously been the closest the agency came to a female chief.

BBC

Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as MI6’s first female chief, succeeding Sir Richard Moore later this year. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the appointment “historic,” citing rising global threats from hostile states and cyber warfare. A Cambridge graduate, Metreweli joined MI6 in 1999 and has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer, with significant operational experience in the Middle East and Europe. Currently serving as Director General “Q,” she leads MI6’s technology and innovation division, countering threats like Chinese biometric surveillance. Unlike Moore, Metreweli has no diplomatic background, having focused solely on intelligence operations. Her appointment follows a broader shift in Britain’s intelligence leadership, with women now also heading GCHQ and previously MI5. Metreweli faces growing challenges from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and non-state actors like al-Qaeda. Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised her as the “ideal” leader to navigate escalating global instability and safeguard UK interests.