UK appoints first-ever female chief of foreign intelligence service MI6

The British government announced on Sunday it was appointing the first ever female chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Blaise Metreweli.

The foreign intelligence service has been helmed by 17 men since it was formally founded in 1909 — something of a disappointment for the agency, which does not aim to replicate the machismo signalled by its depiction in James Bond films.

Metreweli was previously the director general at MI6’s real-life “Q branch” responsible for technology and innovation, and had also held a director-level role at MI5, the domestically focused agency.

She had joined MI6 as a case officer in 1999 and “spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe,” according to the British government.

Following the appointment of Anne-Keast Butler as the director of cyber and signals intelligence agency GCHQ in 2023, it means all three of Britain’s security and intelligence agencies have now had a female leader — with MI5 having previously had two.

“I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my Service. MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas. I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners,” said Metreweli.

Her outgoing predecessor, Sir Richard Moore, will depart later this year. In a statement, Moore said: “I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli to succeed me as ‘C’. Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital.

“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,” said Starmer.

“I’d like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe.”