For the first time in the foreign intelligence service’s 116-year history, MI6 will be headed by a woman after Blaise Metreweli, who has been with the Secret Intelligence Service since 1999, was appointed to succeed Sir Richard Moore later this year.
Currently overseeing technology and innovation within the service, she said she was “proud and honoured” to be asked to take on this leadership role.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer referred to the appointment as “historic,” emphasising that the role of our intelligence services is more crucial than ever.
MI6 collects intelligence from abroad to enhance the UK’s security, focusing primarily on preventing terrorism, disrupting hostile state activities, and strengthening cybersecurity.
The head of MI6, often called “C,” is the only member of the service whose identity is publicly disclosed.
At 47, Ms. Metreweli presently serves as Director General “Q,” leading the essential technology and innovation division tasked with safeguarding the identities of covert agents and developing new methods to counter adversaries such as China’s biometric surveillance.
Having studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, Ms. Metreweli has previously held director-level positions in MI5—the domestic security agency that is MI6’s counterpart—and has spent most of her career in the Middle East and Europe.
In 2024, she was recognised on the King’s overseas and international birthday honours list, receiving the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her contributions to British foreign policy.
