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By Isabella Egerton
A career spy will be the first woman to lead Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6.
Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as ‘C’ — the codename for the head of the organisation — by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who announced that she will take over from Sir Richard Moore this autumn.
Her appointment marks a historic milestone for an agency traditionally led by men, coming at a critical time when the UK faces an “unprecedented” level of national security threats. These include foreign spy vessels operating near British waters and increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks targeting vital infrastructure.
Prime Minister Starmer described Metreweli’s appointment as “historic” and praised her leadership capabilities, saying, “I am confident Blaise will provide the strong leadership required to safeguard our nation and its interests.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy hailed Metreweli as “the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future,” highlighting the government’s commitment to bolstering intelligence capabilities with an additional £600 million in funding.
Metreweli joined MI6 in 1999 and has held numerous operational and leadership roles across the Middle East and Europe. She also served at MI5, where she directed efforts against hostile state activities from Russia, China, and Iran. Fluent in Arabic, she is recognised as one of the intelligence community’s foremost technology experts.
A Cambridge anthropology graduate, Metreweli initially sought a diplomatic career but was redirected into intelligence. Her selection followed an open competition, which shortlisted three women and one man—reflecting a shift toward greater diversity in the agency’s leadership ranks. Under Sir Richard Moore, three of the four current Director Generals are women, reinforcing a cultural change within MI6.
In a statement, Metreweli said, “I am honoured to lead MI6, an organisation critical to the security of the UK and the promotion of its interests overseas. I look forward to working alongside MI6 officers and international partners to meet the challenges ahead.”
Sir Richard Moore praised her appointment, calling Metreweli “a highly accomplished intelligence officer and a leading thinker on technology.”
Baroness Meta Ramsay, one of the most senior female MI6 officers of her generation, welcomed the news: “At last, the glass ceiling has been broken. Blaise Metreweli’s appointment signals a new era for British intelligence.”
