In brief
After over 30 years at MI6, Blaise Metreweli prepares to lead the agency with a focus on innovation and technology.
Blaise Metreweli has made history by being appointed as the first female chief of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service. Beginning her career at MI6 in 1999, she has worked her way up through various roles, including her recent position as director general of technology and innovation, often dubbed "Q," famous among James Bond enthusiasts for introducing high-tech gadgets to 007.Metreweli will take over from Richard Moore this fall and will be the first woman to hold this position in the agency's 116-year history. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced the appointment while attending a G7 summit in Canada, called it a “historic” moment. Uniquely, while Moore engaged publicly during his tenure, Metreweli’s background is far more secretive, with her entire career spent in intelligence without a significant public profile. The landscape of MI6 may transform under her leadership, leveraging her extensive experience in operations across Europe and the Middle East. The spy world is set to witness new approaches under Metreweli's command, possibly changing the industry's dynamics forever.
