In a groundbreaking moment for British intelligence, Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as the new Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), becoming the first woman to head the organisation in its 116-year history.
Metreweli, 47, will succeed Sir Richard Moore later this year as the 18th Chief of MI6 — a role traditionally shrouded in secrecy and often known simply as “C.” Her appointment marks a historic shift at the top of one of the UK’s most critical national security agencies.
Currently serving as Director General “Q”, Metreweli oversees MI6’s cutting-edge technology and innovation division — a unit focused on countering surveillance, protecting agent identities, and staying ahead of rapidly evolving digital threats. She said she was “proud and honoured” to be chosen to lead the service.
“MI6 plays a vital role — with MI5 and GCHQ — in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” Metreweli said. “I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”
Her promotion comes at a time when the global security landscape is facing increasing pressure from hostile states and emerging technologies. MI6’s core mission — recruiting agents overseas and disrupting threats to UK security — has grown more complex with the rise of artificial intelligence, satellite surveillance, and cyber warfare.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the appointment as “historic,” stating it comes at a time “when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital.”
Metreweli brings extensive field and leadership experience to the role. She has held director-level roles within MI5, MI6’s domestic counterpart, and spent significant time operating in Europe and the Middle East. She was honoured in the King’s Overseas Birthday Honours list in 2024 with the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her contributions to British foreign policy.
In a 2021 interview with The Telegraph, published under the pseudonym “Director K,” she spoke candidly about the modern landscape of national threats — from Russian state activity and Chinese technological dominance to cyber-assassination and the protection of sensitive government information.
Outgoing chief Sir Richard Moore, who will step down in the autumn after five years at the helm, praised Metreweli’s leadership and intellect. “Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology,” he said. “I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy also commended the appointment, describing Metreweli as the “ideal candidate” to confront global instability. “She brings deep experience and technological insight at a time when security threats are increasingly complex and digital in nature,” he said.
Under Metreweli’s leadership, MI6 will continue to confront a range of challenges — from cyber-espionage and terrorism to the strategic threats posed by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. These four states are increasingly coordinating efforts to undermine Western interests, according to recent intelligence assessments.
The agency will also face mounting pressure to remain effective in a digital age, where vast volumes of intelligence are harvested online or from space, leaving traditional human intelligence gathering vulnerable to technological exposure.
Sir Richard, along with CIA Director William Burns, warned last year that global tensions had reached a level “not seen since the Cold War.” In a joint article, the two intelligence chiefs pointed to China as the primary long-term strategic challenge, while also highlighting Russia’s sabotage efforts across Europe and the growing volatility in the Middle East.
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