The British government on Sunday named Blaise Metreweli, a veteran intelligence officer, as the first female chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6. Metreweli, 47, will succeed Sir Richard Moore this autumn, becoming the 18th head of the agency in its 116-year history.
Currently serving as MI6’s director of technology—a role informally referred to as "Q"—Metreweli joined the service in 1999 and has spent much of her career in operational postings across the Middle East and Europe. She will assume the position under the traditional code name "C," reserved for the agency’s chief.
Metreweli’s selection marks a milestone for MI6, which, alongside Britain’s other key intelligence agencies—MI5 and GCHQ—has now appointed a woman to its top post. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking from the G7 summit in Canada, called the decision "historic" and praised Metreweli’s leadership at a time when Britain faces "unprecedented threats."
"I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country," Starmer said.
Metreweli, who previously held senior roles in MI5, Britain’s domestic security service, said she was "proud and honoured" to take on the position. "MI6 plays a vital role—alongside MI5 and GCHQ—in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas," she stated.
Metreweli’s tenure will be defined by escalating geopolitical tensions, with Russia, China, and Iran posing the most immediate challenges. British intelligence has accused Moscow of orchestrating sabotage campaigns across Europe to deter support for Ukraine, while Beijing remains a long-term strategic priority. Iran, meanwhile, has been linked to at least 20 plots targeting dissidents or political opponents on UK soil since 2022.
Technological advancements also present a growing hurdle. As digital surveillance and artificial intelligence reshape espionage, MI6 must adapt to maintain its edge in human intelligence-gathering. Outgoing chief Sir Richard Moore, who steps down after a five-year tenure, warned last year that the world faces threats "not seen since the Cold War," citing Russia’s aggression and China’s global influence.
Metreweli, a Cambridge-educated anthropologist, was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2024 for her contributions to British foreign policy. Her appointment follows a tradition of breaking barriers in UK intelligence: MI5’s first female director general, Stella Rimington, took office in 1992, while GCHQ named its first female leader in 2023.
The role of "C" carries unique traditions, including the use of green ink—a practice dating back to MI6’s founder, Captain Mansfield Cumming. Though the position does not confer a "license to kill," agents can be authorized to undertake otherwise illegal operations under strict legal oversight.
Sir Richard praised his successor as "one of our foremost thinkers on technology," while Foreign Secretary David Lammy called her the "ideal candidate" to navigate global instability.
Metreweli will officially assume leadership later this year, overseeing an agency immortalized in fiction but tasked with very real missions: safeguarding Britain’s security in an increasingly volatile world.