UK appoints Blaise Metreweli first woman head of MI6 spy service
The UK government has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the first-ever woman to head its MI6 spy service as the country faces "threats on an unprecedented scale", Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday.
The MI6 Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) achieved global fame through Ian Fleming's fictional agent James Bond.
Metreweli will be the 18th head of the service, Starmer's Downing Street office said in a statement.
"The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital," Starmer said.
"The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale -- be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services," he added.
The MI6 chief is the only publicly named member of the organisation and reports directly to the foreign minister.
The person in the post is referred to as "C" -- not "M" as in the James Bond franchise, which already had a woman, played by Judi Dench, in the role.
Metreweli will take over from outgoing MI6 head Richard Moore in the autumn.
Currently, she is MI6's director general -- known as "Q" -- with responsiblity for technology and innovation at the service, the statement said.
She is described as a career intelligence officer who joined the service in 1999 having studied anthropology at Cambridge University.
Metreweli held senior roles at both MI6 and the MI5 domestic intelligence service and spent most of her career in "operational roles in the Middle East and Europe", the statement added, without giving further biographical details.
The appointment comes over three decades after MI5 appointed its first female chief.
Stella Rimington held the position from 1992-1996, followed by Eliza Manningham-Buller from 2002-2007.
The UK intelligence and security organisation GCHQ appointed its first woman chief, Anne Keast-Butler, in 2023.
har/rmb/rlp
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
Why government's AI dreams keep turning into digital nightmares—and how to fix that
Government leaders worldwide are talking big about AI transformation. In the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., officials are pushing for AI-first agencies that will revolutionize public services. The vision is compelling: streamlined operations, enhanced citizen services, and unprecedented efficiency gains. But here's the uncomfortable truth—most government AI projects are destined to fail spectacularly. The numbers tell a sobering story. A recent McKinsey analysis of nearly 3,000 public sector IT projects found that over 80% exceeded their timelines, with nearly half blowing past their budgets. The average cost overrun hit 108%, or three times worse than private sector projects. These aren't just spreadsheet problems; they're systemic failures that erode public trust and waste taxpayer dollars. When AI projects go wrong in government, the consequences extend far beyond budget overruns. Arkansas's Department of Human Services faced legal challenges when its automated disability care system caused 'irreparable harm' to vulnerable citizens. The Dutch government collapsed in 2021 after an AI system falsely accused thousands of families of welfare fraud. These aren't edge cases—they're warnings about what happens when complex AI systems meet unprepared institutions. The Maturity Trap The core problem isn't AI technology itself—it's the mismatch between ambitious goals and organizational readiness. Government agencies consistently attempt AI implementations that far exceed their technological maturity, like trying to run a marathon without first learning to walk. Our research across 500 publicly traded companies for a previous book revealed a clear pattern: organizations that implement technologies appropriate to their maturity level achieve significant efficiency gains, while those that overreach typically fail. Combining this insight with our practical work implementing digital solutions in the public sector led to the development of a five-stage AI maturity model specifically designed for government agencies. Stage 1: Initial/Ad Hoc. Organizations at this stage operate with isolated AI experiments and no systematic strategy. Stage 2: Developing/Reactive. Agencies begin showing basic capabilities, typically through simple chatbots or vendor-supplied solutions. Stage 3: Defined/Proactive. Organizations develop comprehensive AI strategies aligned with strategic goals. Stage 4: Managed/Integrated. Agencies achieve full operational integration of AI with quantitative performance measures. Stage 5: Optimized/Innovative. Organizations reach full agility and influence how others use AI. Most government agencies today operate at stages 1 or 2, but AI-first initiatives require stage 4 or 5 maturity. This fundamental mismatch explains why so many initiatives fail. Without the right cultural frameworks, technological expertise, and technical infrastructure, organization-wide transformation based around AI capabilities stand little chance of success. Start Where You Are, Not Where You Want to Be The path to AI success begins with brutal honesty about current capabilities. A national security agency we studied exemplifies this approach. Despite seeing enormous opportunities in large language models, they recognized serious risks around data drift, model drift, and information security. Rather than rushing into advanced implementations, they are pursuing incremental development grounded in institutional knowledge and cultural readiness. This measured approach doesn't mean abandoning ambitious goals—it means building toward them systematically. Organizations must select projects that are appropriate to their maturity level while ensuring each initiative serves dual purposes: delivering immediate value and advancing foundational capabilities for future growth. Three Immediate Opportunities For agencies at early maturity stages, three implementation areas offer immediate value creation opportunities while building toward transformation: 1. Information Technology Operations IT represents the most accessible entry point for government AI adoption. The private sector offers a road map — 88% of companies now leverage AI in IT service management, with 70% implementing structured automation operations by 2025, up from 20% in 2021. AI can transform government IT through chatbots handling common user issues, intelligent anomaly detection identifying network problems in real-time, and dynamic resource optimization automatically adjusting allocations during peak periods. These capabilities deliver immediate efficiency gains while building the technical expertise and collaborative patterns needed for higher maturity levels. The challenge lies in government's unique constraints. Stringent security requirements along with legacy systems at agencies like Social Security and NASA create implementation hurdles that private sector organizations rarely face. Success requires careful navigation of these constraints while building foundational capabilities. 2. Predictive Analytics Predictive analytics represents perhaps the highest-value opportunity for early-stage agencies. Government organizations possess vast data resources, complex operational environments, and urgent needs for better decision-making—perfect conditions for predictive AI success. The U.S. military is already demonstrating this potential, using predictive modeling for command and control simulators and live battlefield decision-making. The Department of Veterans Affairs has trialed suicide prevention programs using risk prediction algorithms to identify veterans needing intervention. Beyond specialized applications, predictive analytics can improve incident management, enable predictive maintenance, and forecast resource needs across virtually any government function. These implementations advance AI maturity by building essential data management practices and analytical capabilities while delivering immediate operational benefits. Unlike complex generative AI systems, predictive analytics can be implemented successfully at any maturity stage using well-established machine learning techniques. 3. Cybersecurity Enhancement Cybersecurity offers critical immediate value, with AI applications spanning digital and physical protection domains. Modern AI security platforms process vast amounts of data across networks, endpoints, and physical spaces to identify threats that traditional systems miss—a capability that is particularly valuable given increasing attack sophistication. Current implementations demonstrate proven value. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Automated Indicator Sharing program enables real-time threat intelligence exchange. U.S. Customs and Border Protection deploys AI-enabled autonomous surveillance towers for border situational awareness. The Transportation Security Administration uses AI-driven facial recognition for streamlined security screening. While national security agencies implement the most advanced applications, these capabilities offer immediate value for all government entities with security responsibilities, from facility protection to data privacy assurance. Building Systematic Success Creating sustainable AI capabilities requires following five key principles: Build on existing foundations. Leverage current processes and infrastructure while controlling implementation risks rather than starting from scratch. Develop mission-driven capabilities. Create implementation teams that mix technological and operational expertise to ensure AI solutions address real operational needs rather than pursuing technology for its own sake. Prioritize data quality and governance. AI systems only perform as well as their underlying data. Implementing robust data management practices, establishing clear ownership, and ensuring accuracy are essential prerequisites for success. Learn through limited trials. Choose use cases where failure won't disrupt critical operations, creating space for learning and adjustment without catastrophic consequences. Scale what works. Document implementation lessons and use early wins to build organizational support, creating momentum for broader transformation. The Path Forward Government agencies don't need to choose between ambitious AI goals and practical implementation. The key is recognizing that most transformation happens through systematic progression. While 'strategic leapfrogging' is possible in some situations, it is the exception rather than the norm. By starting with appropriate projects, building foundational capabilities, and scaling successes, agencies can begin realizing concrete AI benefits today while developing toward their longer-term transformation vision. The stakes are too high for continued failure. With 48% of Americans already distrusting AI development and 77% wanting regulation, government agencies must demonstrate that AI can deliver responsible, effective, and efficient outcomes. Success requires abandoning the fantasy of overnight transformation in favor of disciplined, systematic implementation that builds lasting capabilities. The future of government services may indeed be AI-first, but getting there requires being reality-first about where agencies stand today and what it takes to build toward tomorrow. (This article draws on the cross-disciplinary expertise and applied research of Faisal Hoque, Erik Nelson, Professor Thomas Davenport, Dr. Paul Scade, Albert Lulushi, and Dr. Pranay Sanklecha.)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
MI6 gadget master becomes first female chief
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed the first ever female head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. Blaise Metreweli, the current head of technology and innovation at MI6, is being promoted to its 18th chief and the first woman to hold the role as the UK faces growing threats from foreign adversaries. The head of MI6 is commonly referred to as C and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Ms Metreweli, a veteran of the organisation and its domestic counterpart MI5, was awarded a CMG for services to British Foreign Policy last year. She is succeeding Sir Richard Moore, who leaves this autumn after four years in charge. "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,' she said. She added: 'I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners." Announcing her appointment, Sir Keir said: 'The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital. 'The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services. 'I'd like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe – the foundation of my Plan for Change.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who Ms Metreweli will report to, said she takes up the role '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,' he added. Ms Metreweli is director general of technology and innovation in MI6, a role in which she is known as Q. She has held other senior roles across the organisation and MI5. Ms Metreweli is a career intelligence officer, having joined the secret intelligence service in 1999, shortly after graduating from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Most of her career has been spent in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. Outgoing chief Sir Richard Moore said: "I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague. '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."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Vigil held in memory of teenager found dead after going missing weeks before
A vigil has been held in memory of a teenager who was missing for four weeks before his body was found. Cole Cooper, 19, was last seen by his family on May 2 or 3, and was reported missing by them on May 9. He was seen on CCTV Sunday May 4 in Longcroft, Falkirk, at around 6am, and was also reported to have been seen by a witness on May 7, asking for a lift. On June 6, his body was found in a wooded area of Banknock, Falkirk, with police treating his death as 'unexplained'. A vigil was held in the grounds of Glenskirlie Hotel in Banknock on Sunday evening, where Mr Cooper was remembered by hundreds of people. Footage of the event was shared on a Facebook page which had been set up to trace Mr Cooper. His mother, Wendy Stewart, held up a flare at the memorial and comforted two young children, while older sibling Connor Cooper gave a tearful speech, and thanked people in the community who had helped with the search. Older brother Mr Cooper said: 'He is one of the most loving and caring boys there was.' He added: 'As a family we will continue to demand for answers and get justice for you.' Mr Cooper's aunt, Aimee Tennie, also gave a speech and said her nephew was 'the most handsome, caring, loving boy.' She said: 'This little boy wanted nothing more than to have a family of his own and to have his business thrive. 'We are absolutely broken as a family. It doesn't feel real. We don't want to say goodbye to you.' A huge search was launched involving air and marine units, and police scoured more than 2,000 hours of CCTV footage. Mr Cooper was last seen by family on either May 2 or 3 and he appeared on CCTV at about 6am on May 4 in Longcroft, where he tried but failed to access his father's home. He was last seen at about 8.45pm on May 7 on the A803 near Cumbernauld Road in Longcroft, when he asked a school friend for a lift, which he was not given. Police said that establishing Mr Cooper's movements between Sunday May 4 and Wednesday May 7 is a priority for officers. On Friday, Police Scotland said that Mr Cooper's body had been formally identified. Chief Inspector Alex Hatrick said: 'My thoughts are with Cole's family and friends at this time and officers will continue to offer them support. 'As our inquiries progress, we are ensuring the family is kept informed with all aspects of the investigation. 'A dedicated team of detectives is working to piece together Cole's movements leading up to his death. 'Again, I would urge people to think back and please contact police with any information, no matter how small it might seem.' Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 828 of Friday May 9.
