Who Is Blaise Metreweli? First Female MI6 Chief Appointed in Historic Move

LONDON – June 16, 2025 — For the first time in history, the UK’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, will be led by a woman. Blaise Metreweli was officially appointed as the new Chief of MI6 by Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the G7 Summit in Canada.

This landmark decision breaks a 116-year tradition of male leadership and marks a new era in British intelligence. Metreweli’s background in cybersecurity and innovation is expected to bring major transformation to the agency.

Why This Appointment Matters

Metreweli’s appointment comes at a time when cyber warfare, foreign espionage, and global disinformation are growing threats. Her leadership is expected to push MI6 towards modernization and digital readiness.

She succeeds Richard Moore, who served as MI6 Chief from 2020 to 2025 and was a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion in intelligence recruitment.

Who Is Blaise Metreweli? Biography 

• Age: 47

• Current Role: Director of Technology and Innovation, MI6

• Education: Anthropology, Cambridge University; also part of the women’s rowing team

• Experience: Over 25 years in the British intelligence community

She is widely respected for her work in cyber operations, digital strategy, and emerging tech. Her career has focused on using advanced technologies to tackle foreign threats and security challenges.

What Will Her Role Involve?

As the Chief of MI6, Metreweli will now be responsible for:

• Leading UK’s foreign intelligence missions

• Tackling global threats such as cyber warfare, terrorism, and espionage

• Strengthening the agency’s technological capabilities

• Guiding MI6 into a new digital age of intelligence gathering

She is expected to officially take over in autumn 2025.

Breaking Barriers in British Intelligence

Blaise Metreweli’s appointment reflects a broader shift in UK intelligence. While MI5 and GCHQ have already had female heads, MI6 had never appointed a woman until now.

Her rise through the ranks demonstrates that merit, innovation, and leadership now hold greater value than tradition in one of the world’s most secretive agencies.

Selection and Process

The selection was carried out internally and discreetly, beginning in March 2025. Her combination of strategic insight and technical expertise made her the standout candidate.

A New Era for MI6

MI6 is now focusing more on:

• AI-based surveillance systems

• Foreign influence operations

• Cybersecurity defense

• Strategic disinformation detection

Metreweli’s experience puts her in a strong position to modernize MI6’s approach and strengthen the UK’s position in the international intelligence arena.