On Sunday, the 15th of June, the United Kingdom appointed Blaise Metreweli as head of the Secret Intelligence Service, the foreign spy service known as MI6. This is the first time in the 116-year history of MI6 that a woman will lead the organisation, according to Reuters.
Metreweli, who is currently MI6’s chief technology officer, joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999 and has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe, according to a government statement.
She will become the organisation’s 18th head and will take over from Richard Moore at the end of this year.
“I am proud and honoured to be entrusted with the leadership of this service,” said Metreweli, who is taking on one of the most influential positions in Western intelligence and will be known by the code name “C”.
Founded in 1909, MI6 joins other key British intelligence services – the domestic intelligence service MI5 and the communications intelligence agency GCHQ – which are now headed by women.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is currently in Canada to attend the G7 summit, said Metreweli’s appointment comes at a time when Britain faces “unprecedented threats”.
Starmer also thanked Moore for his “selfless service”. “I know that Blaise will continue to provide the outstanding leadership needed to defend our country,” he said.
Metreweli’s biggest challenges are likely to be related to relations with Russia, China and Iran.
British intelligence services have accused Russia of conducting a campaign of sabotage across Europe to deter other countries from supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
In 2021, Moore said that China was his intelligence service’s top priority, while MI5 said last year that since 2022, Iran has been involved in 20 plots to kill, kidnap or attack dissidents or political opponents.
MI6, known in books as the workplace of famous fictional spies such as James Bond, collects information abroad to improve the security of the United Kingdom, and its main objectives are to stop terrorism, disrupt the activities of hostile countries and strengthen cyber security.
Metreweli previously held a senior position at MI5 and studied anthropology at Cambridge University, the government said.
Her appointment comes thirty years after actress Judi Dench first portrayed MI6 female chief James Bond in the film “GoldenEye”.
UK appoints first female head of MI6 spy agency
