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MI6, the UK’s foreign intelligence service, will soon be led by a woman for the first time in its 116-year history. Blaise Metreweli, a veteran intelligence officer who joined the service in 1999, has been appointed as the next chief, replacing Sir Richard Moore later this year.
Metreweli, 47, currently heads MI6’s technology and innovation division, serving as Director General “Q”. Her work has focused on safeguarding agent identities and developing tools to counter threats such as China’s biometric surveillance systems. Upon her appointment, she said she was “proud and honoured” to lead the organisation and continue its mission to protect British interests abroad.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the move as “historic,” noting that it comes at a time when the work of the intelligence services is more vital than ever. Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the sentiment, calling Metreweli the “ideal” candidate to guide MI6 through an era of global instability and fast-evolving security threats.
The MI6 chief—code-named “C”—is the only publicly named officer in the agency. The title doesn’t stand for “Chief,” but traces back to Captain Mansfield Cumming, the first head of the original Secret Service Bureau, who signed documents with a green-ink “C”—a tradition that continues today.
Metreweli’s background includes senior roles at MI5 and extensive fieldwork in the Middle East and Europe. She studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge and was recognised with a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2024 for her contributions to British foreign policy.
As C, she will report directly to the foreign secretary and sit on the Joint Intelligence Committee, where she will help analyse threats and advise the Prime Minister. Her appointment comes at a challenging time, as MI6 faces coordinated threats from states like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, alongside rapid technological change that demands new intelligence methods.
Outgoing chief Sir Richard Moore called her a “highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader” and praised her expertise in technology. He expressed full confidence in her ability to lead the service into a complex future.
Metreweli said she looked forward to working alongside “the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners” to keep the UK secure.
