For the first time since British spies began operating in the shadows over a century ago, a woman is stepping into the spotlight at the very top of MI6.
Blaise Metreweli, a seasoned intelligence officer with more than two decades under her belt, will take over as the 18th Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, better known as MI6, later this year. Her appointment marks a historic shift for the agency since its founding in 1909.
Metreweli, 47, currently heads the organisation’s cutting-edge technology and innovation division. She will soon become the only publicly named member of Britain’s foreign intelligence service, known internally simply as “C”.
“I’m proud and honoured to have been asked to lead,” she said, vowing to continue working closely with MI6’s “brave officers and agents” as well as its international partners.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the announcement as “historic”, adding that it comes at a time when “the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital”.
The Spy Chief Breaking Barriers
Blaise Metreweli isn’t new to the world of covert ops. She joined MI6 in 1999 and has worked extensively in the Middle East and Europe. She’s also served in top-level roles at MI5, MI6’s domestic counterpart, and studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge.
Currently, she holds the title of Director General “Q”, overseeing the tools and tech designed to keep Britain’s agents safe in an era of facial recognition, biometric tracking, and cyber threats from powers like China.
In 2024, she was awarded a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to British foreign policy. And back in 2021, when speaking to The Telegraph under a pseudonym, she highlighted the breadth of modern threats facing the UK: counter-assassination, cyber warfare, espionage, and economic sabotage.
So, What Does ‘C’ Actually Do?
The Chief of MI6, “C” reports directly to the Foreign Secretary and sits on the government’s Joint Intelligence Committee. They don’t carry a licence to kill, but they do have the power to request one: under Section 7 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994, certain operations involving lethal force can be legally authorised, but only by the Foreign Secretary, and under tightly controlled conditions.
Interestingly, the name “C” isn’t short for “Chief”. It originates from Captain Mansfield Cumming, MI6’s first head, who signed all his correspondence with a single green-ink “C”. That tradition continues today: only the MI6 chief writes in green ink within Whitehall.
A Role With Global Stakes
As the world enters what intelligence experts call a “new Cold War”, Metreweli inherits a job fraught with challenges. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are not only causing geopolitical headaches individually, they’re now coordinating more closely than ever to undermine Western interests.
Digital threats are compounding the pressure. MI6’s bread and butter is human intelligence, recruiting people on the inside to steal secrets. But in an era dominated by satellites, AI, and cyber surveillance, that mission has become increasingly complex.
Sir Richard Moore, the outgoing Chief who led MI6 for five years, recently warned that “the international order is under threat in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War”. In a joint op-ed with CIA Director William Burns, he pointed to Russia’s sabotage campaigns in Europe and China’s growing global influence as major concerns.
The Spy World Reacts
Sir Richard, who steps down this autumn, called his successor’s appointment “historic” and said he was “absolutely delighted”.
“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 praised her as the “ideal candidate” to tackle the complex landscape of global instability and emerging threats.
Prime Minister Starmer also thanked Sir Richard for his service, adding, “I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country and keep our people safe.”
