The British government on Sunday appointed Blaise Metreweli as the country’s first woman to serve as chief of the UK’s foreign spy service MI6.But though she will be the first woman to lead the agency, Britain – and the world – have long had women play leading roles in espionage.
Blaise Metreweli, 47, is a career intelligence officer. Until her appointment as head of MI6, she was the director general of technology and innovation at MI6, also known as “Q”.She joined MI6 as a case officer in 1999, and has held a range of roles since then. She has worked in Europe and the Middle East for the agency, and speaks Arabic, according to United Kingdom media.
In the past, she has also worked at MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency.
She studied anthropology at Cambridge University’s Pembroke College.
Who is Blaise Metreweli, first female head of Britain’s MI6?
A spook for more than a quarter of a century, Metreweli was ‘Q’ at the spy agency. Now she’ll be known as ‘C’. Here’s why.
Published On 17 Jun 2025
The British government on Sunday appointed Blaise Metreweli as the
country’s first woman to serve as chief of the UK’s foreign spy service
MI6.But though she will be the first woman to lead the agency, Britain –
and the world – have long had women play leading roles in espionage.
The chief is the only publicly named member of MI6 staff and reports directly to the British foreign secretary, a position currently held by David Lammy.
The chief is the only publicly named member of MI6 staff and reports directly to the British foreign secretary, a position currently held by David Lammy.
- M16 was formed in 1909 and collects overseas intelligence to understand threats to, and opportunities for, the UK and its overseas interests.
- The agency also works in tandem with other British intelligence services, including MI5 and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), which focuses on intercepting and analysing electronic signals and also works on cybersecurity.
- MI6 also works on key partnerships such as the Five Eyes which comprise Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the United States.
Metreweli will be MI6’s 18th C. She will replace Richard Moore, who led the agency for the past five years.
Reacting to Metreweli’s appointment, 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.”
- In 2021, Moore said that China was the single greatest priority for M16.
- Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted that Russia poses a threat to Europe.
- While announcing a boost in defence infrastructure earlier this month, Starmer said:
- “The threat we face is more serious, more immediate and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War.”
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