MI6 gadget chief becomes first female spymaster
MI6 has named an insider as its first female leader after her rival for the role was criticised for being too soft on China.
Blaise Metreweli, 47, a Cambridge University graduate who once rowed in the women's Boat Race, currently holds the position of 'Q', the head of the service's technical branch, made famous by the James Bond franchise.
The appointment of a woman as 'C', the head of MI6, formally known as the Secret Intelligence Service, is a case of life imitating art. Dame Judi Dench has played 'M ', the head of the SIS in the Bond franchise, in many of the recent 007 films.
Ms Metreweli will become the international spying agency's 18th chief and its first female leader. She joined MI6 in 1999 and has spent time in the field in the Middle East and Europe.
She won the appointment despite her rival, Dame Barbara Woodward, being seen by some as the front-runner.
Dame Barbara was the UK's ambassador to China between 2015 and 2020, and criticism emerged in recent weeks suggesting that she had been too soft on the Communist country.
She was dubbed 'Beijing Barbara' in some reports, in what some observers saw as a campaign to try to block her candidacy. Critics included Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, who said that she had been 'less than robust' about the Beijing regime's track record on human rights and freedom.
The UK's stance on China has hardened in the last decade after the so-called 'golden era' of British-Chinese relations when Lord Cameron was prime minister and George Osborne was chancellor.
Donald Trump's return to the White House has put new emphasis on Britain's position on Beijing, with Sir Keir Starmer trying to improve relations, especially on trade, with China.
The Prime Minister raised eyebrows in some Washington circles with his choice of Lord Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the US, given the Labour peer's previous support for warmer relations with the Chinese.
Ms Metreweli, who as MI6 chief will become the only publicly named figure at the agency, was made a CMG for services to foreign policy in the King's birthday honours last summer.
In a statement, Ms Metreweli said: 'I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my Service. MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas.
'I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.'
Extra £600m for intelligence community
Sir Keir said: 'At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together, Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad.
'Every day, our intelligence services work behind the scenes to protect our national security and compete with our adversaries. That's why I am proud that we are investing an extra £600 million in our intelligence community so they can continue to defend our way of life.'
Ms Metreweli studied anthropology at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and was in the crew that beat Oxford in the 1997 women's Boat Race. Pembroke has a spying history; Sir Richard Dearlove, the former MI6 chief, was its master between 2004 and 2015.
She is a career intelligence officer, having joined MI6 as a case officer in 1999. She has held a director-level role at MI5 and is currently director general of technology and innovation at MI6, a role known as 'Q'.
'Foremost thinker' on technology
She replaces Sir Richard Moore, who has held the position since October 2020.
Sir Richard said: 'I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli to succeed me as 'C'. Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.'
Sir Keir said: 'I would like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his excellent leadership of the Service over the past five years and his contribution to UK national security during that time and over his long career.'
Ms Metreweli will officially report to David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary.
Mr Lammy said: 'I am delighted to appoint Blaise Metreweli as the next chief of MI6. With a wealth of experience from across our national security community, Blaise is the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future.'
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