Breaking the spy ceiling: MI6 names first female chief in 116 years
In a historic move, MI6, Britain’s storied Secret Intelligence Service, will be led by a woman for the first time in its 116-year history.
Blaise Metreweli, a 47-year-old intelligence veteran who joined MI6 in 1999, will take the helm as the 18th chief, succeeding Sir Richard Moore later this year.
Known as “C” – a nod to the agency’s first leader, Captain Mansfield Cumming, who famously signed his letters in green ink – Metreweli steps into a role that’s as iconic as it is secretive, becoming the only publicly named member of the clandestine service.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the appointment as “historic,” emphasising the critical role of intelligence services in an era of global instability. “The work of MI6 has never been more vital,” he said, as the agency grapples with threats from hostile states like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, alongside non-state actors like al-Qaeda.
From Cambridge to covert: Metreweli’s journey
Metreweli, a Cambridge-educated anthropologist, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Currently serving as Director General “Q,” she oversees MI6’s technology and innovation division, a crucial arm tasked with outsmarting adversaries’ advanced surveillance systems, such as China’s biometric tracking. Her career spans high-level roles in both MI6 and its domestic counterpart, MI5, with a focus on operations in the Middle East and Europe.
In 2021, speaking to The Telegraph under the pseudonym “Director K,” Metreweli described the diverse threats to UK security, from counter-assassination to protecting sensitive technology and government secrets.
She flagged Russian state activities and China’s global influence as key challenges, noting, “China is changing the world, presenting both opportunities and threats for the UK.”
Her contributions earned her the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List for advancing British foreign policy.
Now, as “C,” she’ll report directly to Foreign Secretary David Lammy and serve on the Joint Intelligence Committee, advising the Prime Minister on global security matters.
The “C” factor: Leading MI6 in a digital age
The role of “C” is steeped in tradition – from the green ink signature to its origins with Captain Cumming in the 1900s – but it’s no relic. MI6’s mission is to gather overseas intelligence to bolster UK security, counter terrorism, disrupt hostile states, and strengthen cybersecurity.
Yet, in an era of rapid digital innovation, the agency faces unprecedented challenges.
Metreweli inherits a world where Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly collaborating to undermine Western interests.
Outgoing chief Sir Richard Moore and former CIA director William Burns warned last year in the Financial Times that the global order is “under threat in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War.” From Russian sabotage in Europe to China’s rise as the century’s defining geopolitical challenge, MI6 must stay ahead of the curve.
The agency’s human spies remain its lifeblood, stealing secrets from adversaries. But with intelligence increasingly gathered online and from space, Metreweli’s tech expertise will be pivotal. Her division has worked to shield agents’ identities and develop cutting-edge tools to evade sophisticated surveillance. “MI6 plays a vital role, alongside MI5 and GCHQ, in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said. “I’m proud and honoured to lead and continue this work with our brave officers and international partners.”
A licence to lead, not to kill
While pop culture might conjure images of “C” handing out “licenses to kill,” the reality is more complex. Under Section 7 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994, the Foreign Secretary can authorise MI6 agents to undertake actions, including lethal force, that would otherwise be illegal – but only through a rigorous legal process.
Metreweli’s job is less about Bond-style theatrics and more about steering a high-stakes chess game against global threats.
Sir Richard Moore, stepping down after five years, called Metreweli a “highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader” and one of MI6’s “foremost thinkers on technology.”
Foreign Secretary Lammy echoed this, dubbing her the “ideal” candidate to navigate “global instability and emerging security threats.”
Both he and Starmer also paid tribute to Moore’s leadership in bolstering national security.
A new era for MI6
Metreweli’s appointment marks a seismic shift for an agency long defined by tradition.
At 47, she brings a blend of intellectual rigor, field experience, and technological savvy to confront a world where espionage is as digital as it is daring.
As she prepares to pick up the green ink pen, the first female “C” is poised to redefine what it means to lead Britain’s spies in an ever-shifting global landscape.
“I look forward to continuing the vital work of MI6 alongside our brave officers and agents,” Metreweli said. With the world watching, her leadership will be tested by adversaries old and new — but if her track record is any indication, she’s ready to outsmart them all.
