United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the chief of the country’s Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6.<\/p>\n
The appointment means MI6<\/a> will be led by a woman for the first time in the foreign intelligence service’s 116-year history.<\/p>\n Also Read<\/strong> | UK Intelligence Estimates 6,000 North Korean Casualties in Kursk<\/a><\/p>\n Blaise Metreweli, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service<\/a> in 1999, will become the 18th chief of the organisation and take over from Sir Richard Moore later this year.<\/p>\n Metreweli is currently responsible for technology and innovation at the service and said she was \u2018proud and honoured\u2019 to have been asked to lead, according to a BBC report.<\/p>\n ‘Historic Appointment’<\/p>\n Starmer<\/a> called the appointment \u2018historic\u2019 at a time \u2018when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital\u2019.<\/p>\n Commonly referred to as \u2018C\u2019, the international spy agency\u2019s chief has operational responsibility for MI6 and is the only publicly named member of the organisation, accountable to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Who is Blaise Metreweli?<\/p>\n Forty-seven-year-old Metreweli has been promoted from his current role as Director General, or \u2018Q\u2019, responsible for technology and innovation in MI6. He previously held a director-level role at MI5, the UK\u2019s domestic security service.<\/p>\n \u201cThe historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli<\/a> comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,\u201d Starmer said on Sunday, news agency PTI said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale \u2013 be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Metreweli will succeed Sir Richard Moore, who leaves the service in the autumn later this year.<\/p>\n Also Read<\/strong> | PM Modi meets UK’s Starmer in Rio, says eager to work closely in technology, green energy<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to thank Sir Richard Moore<\/a> for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our country and keep our people safe \u2013 the foundation of my Plan for Change,\u201d Starmer said.<\/p>\n The new spy chief expressed her pride and honour in leading the security service, which she has been a part of since 1999 as a career intelligence officer, having joined the Security Service as a case officer.<\/p>\n \u201cMI6 plays a vital role \u2013 with MI5 and GCHQ [Government Communications Headquarters] \u2013 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,\u201d said the new ‘C’.<\/p>\n Studied Anthropology at Cambridge<\/p>\n Metreweli, who studied Anthropology at Pembroke College, Cambridge University, has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe.<\/p>\n \u201cWith a wealth<\/a> of experience from across our national security community, Blaise is the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future,\u201d said her boss, David Lammy.<\/p>\n \u201cAt 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Metreweli will be the 18th chief of MI6<\/a> when she takes charge from Moore.<\/p>\n \u201cI am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli, to succeed me as \u2018C\u2019. 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,\u201d said the outgoing ‘C’.<\/p>\n Depicted as \u2018Q\u2019.<\/p>\n The BBC said MI6 is tasked with gathering intelligence overseas to improve the UK’s security. Its core aims are to stop terrorism, disrupt the activities of hostile states, and bolster cybersecurity.<\/p>\n The service’s chief, commonly referred to as “C,” is the only publicly named member.<\/p>\n MI6 has been famously projected in Ian Lancaster Fleming<\/a>‘s James Bond novels and the related Hollywood film franchise. In the fictional scenario, Dame Judi Dench plays ‘C’, which is referenced as \u2018M\u2019.<\/p>\n In the books and films, Metreweli\u2019s current role as tech director at the spy agency is depicted as \u2018Q\u2019.<\/p>\n Companion of the Order 2024<\/p>\n The BBC report said that in 2024, on the King’s overseas and international birthday honours list, Metreweli received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to British foreign policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n