Blaise Metreweli becomes first woman to lead MI6 as UK faces escalating threats from China, Iran and beyond; here¡¯s what we know
Blaise Metreweli will become the first female head of MI6 this autumn. With decades of experience and a career across MI6 and MI5, she takes charge at a time of major global threats. Her appointment follows a growing trend of women leading top UK intelligence agencies.
Britain has named Blaise Metreweli as the next Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), marking the first time a woman will lead the UK's foreign intelligence agency. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the historic appointment on Sunday, announcing that Metreweli will assume her new role in the autumn. She is currently in charge of the agency¡¯s technology division¡ªcommonly referred to as ¡°Q,¡± a name popularised in spy films.
Metreweli will replace Richard Moore, who is stepping down after five years in the position. Her appointment aligns MI6 with Britain¡¯s other intelligence services, MI5 and GCHQ, both of which have had female chiefs.
Career in intelligence spanning over two decades
Metreweli, 47, joined MI6 in 1999. Over the past two decades, she has served in several operational roles, especially across the Middle East and Europe. In addition to her service in MI6, she previously held a director-level post at MI5, the UK¡¯s domestic intelligence agency.
She studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge and has played a key role in leading innovation within the intelligence sector. Her most recent position, heading MI6¡¯s technology and innovation teams, corresponds to the fictional ¡°Q¡± in the James Bond universe. Though it became public in 2017 that the real-life ¡°Q¡± was a woman, Metreweli¡¯s identity remained undisclosed until now.
I am delighted to announce that Blaise Metreweli will succeed me as Chief of #MI6 on 1 October 2025. Blaise has had a distinguished career as an intelligence officer and leader. She possesses all the qualities to be an outstanding ¡®C¡¯. Read more here ?https://t.co/w2HJ8cj1xs
¡ª Richard Moore (@ChiefMI6) June 15, 2025
Leadership comes amid global security pressures
Prime Minister Starmer, who is currently attending the G7 Summit in Canada, called the move ¡°historic¡± and said Metreweli¡¯s leadership comes at a time of mounting global threats. ¡°I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country and keep our people safe,¡± he stated.
In her official response, Metreweli said she is ¡°proud and honoured¡± to be selected as the next head of MI6.
Among the primary international concerns facing British intelligence today are Russia, China, and Iran. According to the government, MI6 and other agencies are actively confronting challenges posed by these nations. British intelligence has previously accused Russia of orchestrating acts of sabotage across Europe to deter support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, China was cited as MI6¡¯s top priority by Moore in 2021, and MI5 linked Iran to at least 20 plots against dissidents in the UK since 2022.
MI6 joins MI5 and GCHQ in gender-inclusive leadership
Metreweli¡¯s appointment brings MI6 in line with its sister agencies. MI5 first had a female chief in 1992 when Stella Rimington was named director, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002 to 2007. In 2023, GCHQ also appointed its first female director.
Her appointment also reflects a cultural parallel¡ªJudi Dench first played a female MI6 boss on screen in GoldenEye (1995). Now, three decades later, a woman is officially at the helm of Britain¡¯s real-life foreign spy agency.
Metreweli¡¯s leadership will begin during a complex time for global intelligence, placing her at the center of Britain¡¯s security response.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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