In a historic appointment, Blaise Metreweli has been named the next Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), becoming the first woman to lead the organisation since its founding in 1909.
Metreweli, who currently serves as MI6’s Director General for Technology and Innovation, will assume her new role on 1 October 2025, succeeding Sir Richard Moore. Her appointment marks a significant moment in the evolution of British intelligence, reflecting both the changing nature of global threats and the government's ongoing push for greater diversity in public leadership.
With more than 25 years in intelligence, Metreweli has held senior operational posts across the Middle East and Europe. Her career has been characterised by a strong emphasis on technological innovation and modernisation. She joined MI6 in 1999 after studying anthropology at the University of Cambridge and has since built a reputation as a strategic thinker with deep expertise in cyber operations and digital security.
In 2024, she was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to UK foreign policy and national security.
Announcing the appointment, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it “a landmark moment for the intelligence community and for the country.” He added: “Blaise Metreweli brings outstanding operational experience, technological insight, and the leadership required to guide MI6 through an increasingly complex global landscape.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy also welcomed the decision, describing Metreweli as “an exceptional public servant” and “ideally placed to strengthen the UK’s intelligence capabilities at a time of heightened international tension.”
Her appointment completes a historic shift within Britain’s intelligence agencies, with all three major services—MI6, MI5, and GCHQ—now led by women for the first time. Observers see this as a clear sign of progress in a sector traditionally dominated by male leadership.
As Chief of MI6—also known as “C”—Metreweli will oversee the UK’s overseas intelligence operations and report directly to the Foreign Secretary. She will lead efforts to combat threats ranging from hostile state activity to cyber espionage and terrorism, while continuing to modernise the agency’s approach to recruitment, digital capability, and global partnerships.
Metreweli has not yet issued a public statement, in line with the discretion traditionally maintained by MI6 chiefs.
Her appointment has been widely welcomed by experts and former officials, who view it as a natural progression for a service increasingly shaped by digital innovation, global complexity, and the need for inclusive leadership at the highest levels.