Who Is Blaise Metreweli? Britain’s MI6 Spy Agency's First Female Chief Appointed Amid Global Threats

In a landmark appointment, Blaise Metreweli has been named the next chief of MI6, making her the first woman in the agency’s 116-year history to take the top role.

Announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday, 15 June, Metreweli will officially succeed Richard Moore this autumn as head of the UK’s foreign intelligence service, known formally as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).

Who Is Blaise Metreweli?

A 47-year-old career intelligence officer, Metreweli currently serves as MI6’s director of technology and innovation, a real-world equivalent to the fictional gadget wizard ‘Q’ in James Bond films. Her 25-year tenure in the shadows of British espionage will now be matched by the rare distinction of becoming the only publicly named MI6 officer, known simply as “C”.

Educated at Cambridge University, where she studied anthropology and rowed competitively, Metreweli’s ascent reflects both her technical acumen and deep operational experience. She is expected to steer the agency through increasingly complex threats, including those posed by Russia, China, and state-backed cyber-attacks.

“I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my Service,” she said in a statement quoted by The Associated Press.

The appointment comes as the UK grapples with a shifting global order. “The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale,” Starmer said, pointing to hostile spy ships, cyber disruptions, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Foreign Secretary David Lammy added, “At a time of global instability and emerging security threats… Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head on.”

Metreweli’s selection also marks a significant cultural moment within the intelligence community. MI6 has increasingly prioritised diversity, moving away from the elite, Oxbridge-only pipeline that long defined it. Her predecessor, Richard Moore, had voiced hope that his successor would break the agency’s gender barrier, writing in 2023 that he would “help forge women’s equality by working to ensure I’m the last C selected from an all-male shortlist.”

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