Blaise Metreweli Named First Female Chief of MI6 in 116-Year History

• For the first time in the 116-year history of the Secret Intelligence Service, a woman will serve as its chief
• The 18th Chief of the organization is Blaise Metreweli
• Since joining MI6 in 1999, she has occupied a number of high-level leadership roles

The UK's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, will have a female head for the first time in its 116-year history. Later this year, Sir Richard Moore will be replaced as the 18th chief of the Secret Intelligence Service by Blaise Metreweli, who joined the agency in 1999.

At MI6, Blaise is currently Director General "Q" and is in charge of technology and innovation. He is primarily concerned with protecting agent identities and thwarting sophisticated surveillance technologies like China's biometric tracking. She thanked them and said she was "proud and honoured" to have been selected for the position.

At a time when intelligence work is vital to national security, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer referred to the appointment as "historic." Renowned for obtaining intelligence overseas, MI6 collaborates closely with GCHQ and MI5 to combat hostile states, prevent terrorism, and improve cyber-security. The only member of the agency that is publicly recognized is its leader, who is commonly referred to as "C."

Blaise, 47, has held senior positions at MI5 before and graduated with a degree in anthropology from the University of Cambridge. She has spent a large portion of her career in Europe and the Middle East. In recognition of her contributions to British foreign policy, she received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) award at the 2024 King's international birthday celebration.

She emphasized the wide range of national security risks, such as safeguarding government property, sensitive technologies, and the economy, in a 2021 interview with The Telegraph conducted under the alias "Director K." China's worldwide influence offers the UK both enormous opportunities and significant risks, she said, even though Russian state activity is still a cause for concern.