UK appoints Blaise Metreweli first woman head of MI6 spy service

The United Kingdom government has announced the appointment of Blaise Metreweli as the first woman to lead its Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), widely known as MI6. Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement on Sunday, emphasizing that the country is confronting “threats on an unprecedented scale.”

MI6, which gained global renown through Ian Fleming’s fictional character James Bond, will see Metreweli become its 18th chief. Starmer’s Downing Street office stated, “The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital.”

The Prime Minister further elaborated on the current threat landscape, noting, “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.”

The MI6 chief is the sole publicly identified member of the organization and reports directly to the foreign minister. This position is traditionally referred to as “C,” distinct from “M” in the James Bond franchise, a role previously portrayed by actress Judi Dench.

Metreweli is slated to succeed the outgoing MI6 head, Richard Moore, in the autumn. She currently serves as MI6’s director general, known as “Q,” overseeing technology and innovation within the service.

Described as a career intelligence officer, Metreweli joined MI6 in 1999 after studying anthropology at Cambridge University. Her career has included senior roles at both MI6 and the MI5 domestic intelligence service, with the majority of her experience in “operational roles in the Middle East and Europe,” according to the statement, which did not provide further biographical details.

This appointment follows over three decades after MI5 appointed its first female chief, Stella Rimington, who held the position from 1992-1996, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002-2007. Furthermore, the UK’s intelligence and security organization GCHQ appointed its first female chief, Anne Keast-Butler, in 2023.