Blaise Metreweli appointed as MI6’s first feminine leader

MI6 shall be led via a girl for the primary time within the international intelligence carrier’s 116-year historical past.

Blaise Metreweli, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, will develop into the 18th leader of the organisation and take over from Sir Richard Moore later this 12 months.

She is recently accountable for generation and innovation on the carrier and mentioned she used to be “proud and honoured” to had been requested to steer.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to as the appointment “historic” at a time “when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital”.

MI6 is tasked with amassing intelligence out of the country to support the United Kingdom’s safety, with its core goals being to forestall terrorism, disrupt the actions of adversarial states, and bolster cyber-security.

Its leader, repeatedly known as ‘C’, is the one publicly named member of the carrier.

Ms Metreweli, 47, is recently Director General ‘Q’ – head of the a very powerful generation and innovation department that goals to stay the identities of secret brokers secret, and get a hold of new techniques to evade adversaries like China’s biometric surveillance.

“MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she mentioned.

“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”

Ms Metreweli, who studied anthropology on the University of Cambridge, has up to now held director stage roles in MI5 – MI6’s sister, home safety company – and spent maximum of her profession operating within the Middle East and Europe.

On the King’s out of the country and world birthday honours record in 2024, she gained the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her products and services to British international coverage.

Speaking to the Telegraph in December 2021 when she used to be at MI5, below the pseudonym of “Director K”, Ms Metreweli mentioned threats to UK nationwide safety “really are diverse”.

“The threats we are looking at primarily exist around protecting government, protecting secrets, protecting our people – so counter-assassination – protecting our economy, sensitive technology and critical knowledge,” she mentioned.

She added that “Russian state activity – not Russia itself – remains a threat” and that China used to be “changing the way the world is and that presents amazing opportunities and threats for the UK”.

The organisation she shall be working faces exceptional and a couple of demanding situations.

Geographically, those emanate basically from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, because the 4 international locations co-operate ever extra intently to undermine UK and Western pursuits around the globe.

But there are technical demanding situations too.

MI6’s position is to recruit human brokers to scouse borrow secrets and techniques from Britain’s adversaries, which come with each adversarial international locations and non-state teams like al-Qaeda.

In an age of fast virtual innovation, MI6 is having to pedal ever quicker to stick forward of its enemies and to stay related, when such a lot intelligence is now accrued on-line and from area.

Last September, outgoing leader Sir Richard – along then-CIA leader William Burns – warned that the world global used to be “under threat in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War”.

Writing within the Financial Times, the pair mentioned that past the struggle in Ukraine, the 2 international intelligence products and services have been proceeding to “work together to disrupt the reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe being waged by Russian intelligence”.

Sir Richard and Mr Burns added that they noticed the upward thrust of China as the principle intelligence and geopolitical problem of the century. They additionally mentioned they’d driven “hard” for restraint and de-escalation within the Middle East.

On Sunday, Sir Richard, who will step down within the autumn after 5 years within the position, mentioned he used to be “absolutely delighted” with the “historic appointment” of his colleague.

“Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology,” he mentioned.

“I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who Ms Metreweli shall be responsible to as MI6’s new leader, mentioned she used to be the “ideal” candidate and can be sure the United Kingdom is in a position to take on the demanding situations of “global instability and emerging security threats”.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Sir Richard Moore for his service and leadership,” he mentioned.

“I have worked closely with him over the past year and thank him for his valuable contribution enhancing our national security and protecting the British public.”

Sir Keir additionally thanked Sir Richard for his “dedicated service”.

“I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe,” he added.

Additional reporting via Hollie Cole