In a landmark moment for British intelligence, Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as the first female chief of MI6, the United Kingdom's foreign intelligence service. Announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on June 15, 2025, this historic appointment marks a significant milestone in the 116-year history of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).
Metreweli, 47, will become the 18th Chief of MI6, commonly referred to as "C," succeeding Sir Richard Moore, who is set to step down this autumn after nearly five years in the role. Unlike Moore, who came to MI6 with a diplomatic background, including serving as ambassador to Turkey, Metreweli is a career intelligence officer who has spent her entire professional life within the intelligence community.
Currently, she serves as Director General "Q," heading MI6's technology and innovation division. This role, famously portrayed in James Bond films as the quartermaster who provides gadgets and technical support, is crucial in an era where espionage increasingly relies on cutting-edge technology to outsmart adversaries. Metreweli’s position involves safeguarding the identities of covert agents and developing new methods to evade surveillance, particularly against sophisticated threats like China's biometric monitoring systems.
Educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where she studied social anthropology, Metreweli joined MI6 in 1999 shortly after graduation. Her career has been marked by extensive operational experience in the Middle East and Europe, alongside leadership roles within MI5, the UK's domestic security agency. Her broad expertise and leadership qualities have earned her high regard among colleagues and national security officials alike.
Prime Minister Starmer described Metreweli's appointment as "historic," emphasizing the critical juncture at which it occurs. "The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," he said. "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."
These words underscore the complex security landscape confronting the UK today. MI6's core missions include preventing terrorism, disrupting hostile state activities, and bolstering cybersecurity. The challenges are multifaceted and global, with primary adversaries including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, whose cooperation poses increasing risks to Western interests.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, to whom Metreweli will be accountable, praised her as the "ideal" candidate to lead MI6 amid this era of global instability and emerging security threats. "With a wealth of experience from across our national security community, Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head-on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad," he said. Lammy also highlighted the government's commitment to strengthening intelligence capabilities, noting an additional £600 million investment in the intelligence community.
Metreweli herself expressed pride and honor at the appointment. "I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my Service," she said. "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." Her remarks reflect a strong sense of duty and recognition of the collaborative nature of Britain's intelligence efforts.
Notably, MI6 has never before had a female head since its founding in 1909, making Metreweli's rise a groundbreaking development. While MI5 has been led by women twice before – by Stella Rimington and Eliza Manningham-Buller – and GCHQ has been under female leadership since 2023 with Anne Keast-Butler, MI6's appointment of a woman to its top post is unprecedented.
Outgoing Chief Sir Richard Moore expressed his delight at Metreweli's promotion. "I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli, to succeed me as ‘C’. Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6," he said.
The title "C" itself has an interesting origin, tracing back to Captain Mansfield Cumming, the first head of the Secret Service Bureau in the early 1900s. He signed his letters with the initial "C" and wrote in green ink, a tradition that continues with every MI6 chief to this day, symbolizing continuity and secrecy. Despite popular myths, the role does not grant a "license to kill"; lethal actions by agents require authorization from the Foreign Secretary under strict legal frameworks.
During Moore's tenure, MI6 played a pivotal role in international security, notably issuing warnings about Vladimir Putin's plans to invade Ukraine before the full-scale invasion in 2022. The agency also worked closely with allies such as the CIA to counter Russian sabotage campaigns across Europe. These efforts highlight the ongoing and evolving threats that MI6 must confront.
Metreweli’s expertise in technology and innovation positions her well to lead MI6 through the digital age. Intelligence gathering now extends far beyond traditional human espionage to encompass cyber operations, satellite surveillance, and countering advanced biometric tracking. Staying ahead of adversaries in this rapidly changing environment requires visionary leadership and a deep understanding of both operational and technological domains.
Her appointment also resonates culturally, as it mirrors the fictional character "Q" from the James Bond series, who was revealed to be female in 2017, though Metreweli was not publicly named then. This real-life progression from fiction to fact symbolizes a broader shift toward diversity and modernization within the intelligence community.
As Metreweli prepares to take the helm this autumn, the United Kingdom faces a complex and volatile security environment. Her leadership will be crucial in navigating challenges from state actors and non-state threats alike, ensuring that MI6 remains a cornerstone of national security and a defender of British interests worldwide.
With this historic appointment, MI6 not only breaks a gender barrier but also signals a commitment to innovation, resilience, and adaptability in an era where intelligence work is more critical than ever.
