Who is Blaise Metreweli, the first woman who will direct the British Intelligence Service MI6 in almost 120 years

The head of the organism, commonly known as “C”, is the only member of the service whose identity is publicly known.

Metreweli, 47, is currently general director “Q”, the crucial division of technology and innovation, which has among its tasks to secret the identity of secret agents and find new ways of evading adversaries such as Chinese biometric surveillance.

“The MI6 plays a vital role, together with the MI5 (internal security service and brother of the MI6) and the GCHQ (the cybersecurity agency), to maintain the security of the British people and promote the interests of the United Kingdom abroad,” he said.

“I hope to continue that work together with the brave officers and agents of the MI6 and our numerous international partners,” he added.

Metreweli, who studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, has previously held management positions in MI5 and has dedicated most of his career to investigate the Middle East and Europe.

The new director of the Intelligence Agency appeared on the honors list of King Carlos III for his birthday in 2024 and received the companion order of the order of San Miguel and San Jorge (CMG) for his contribution to British foreign policy.

Speaking to the London newspaper The Telegraph in December 2021, when I worked at MI5, under the pseudonym of “Director K”, Metreweli said that the threats to the national security of the United Kingdom “are really diverse.”

“The threats we analyze are mainly on the protection of the government, the protection of secrets, the protection of our people (that is, the counter -lassination), the protection of our economy, sensitive technology and critical knowledge,” he said.

The official added that “the activity of the Russian state, not Russia in itself, remains a threat” and that China was “changing the way it is the world, which presents amazing opportunities and threats to the United Kingdom.”

C is the Chief of the MI6, officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service, and reports to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

C is also part of the Joint Intelligence Committee, together with the heads of other departments and senior government officials. Receive intelligence reports, analyze ongoing situations and advise the prime minister.

It is a common mistake to think that “C” means Chief (boss, in Spanish). It is not so. The first British espionage agency was called Secret Service Bureau (Secret Service Office) and was established in the 1900s.

The organization was directed by a Navy officer, Captain Mansfield Cumming, who always signed with the letters “C” and the code name has remained.

Captain Cumming also wrote with green ink. To this day, the director of the MI6 is the only person in Whitehall (London Government District) who writes in green.

And the C grants its agents “license to kill”? No. But the Minister of Foreign Affairs can.

According to article 7 of the 1994 Intelligence Services Law, an MI6 agent can be authorized to carry out certain actions that would otherwise be illegal, including the use of lethal force. However, it is a long and complex legal process.

The organization that Metreweli will face is faced with multiple unprecedented challenges.

Geographically, these come mainly from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, since the four nations cooperate more and more closely to undermine the interests of the United Kingdom and the West worldwide.

But there are also technical challenges.

The function of the MI6 is to recruit agents to steal secrets from the adversaries of the United Kingdom, which include both hostile nations and non -state groups and al Qaeda.

In an era of rapid digital innovation, the MI6 must accelerate more and more to anticipate its enemies and maintain its relevance, at a time when so much intelligence is now collected online and from space.

Last September, the outgoing director, Richard Moore, along with the then director of the CIA, William Burns, warned that the world was “under a threat not seen from the Cold War.”

In an article published in the London newspaper Financial Times, the heads of both intelligence services affirmed that, beyond the war in Ukraine, they continued “working together to dismantle the reckless sabotage campaign that Russian intelligence is carrying out throughout Europe.”

Moore and Burns added that they considered the rise of China as the main geopolitical and intelligence challenge of the century.

And they also claimed to have firmly pressed to achieve the moderation and the unfaired of the conflicts that shake into the Middle East.

On Sunday, Moore, who will leave the position in autumn after five years, declared himself “absolutely delighted” with the “historical appointment” of his colleague.

“Blaise is a very competent intelligence officer and leader, and one of our main technology thinkers,” he said.

“I am excited to welcome her as the first woman at the head of the MI6,” he said.

For his part, the British Foreign Minister, David Lammy, to whom Metreweli will account for the New Chief of the MI6, said that she was the “ideal” candidate and that he will guarantee that the United Kingdom can face the challenges of “global instability and the new threats to security.”

“I would also like to pay tribute to Richard Moore for his service and leadership,” he added.

“I have worked closely with him during the last year and I appreciate his valuable contribution to improve our national security and protect the British public,” he finished.

The British premier also thanked the outgoing head of the Espionage Organization for his “dedication” and expressed his confidence in his successor.

“I know that Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership necessary to defend our county and keep our people safe,” he added.

Additional reporting by Hollie Cole.

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