Career spy to become first woman to head MI6

A vocation spy called Blaise Metreweli volition go the archetypal pistillate to caput MI6 successful a "historic appointment", the premier curate has announced.

She volition instrumentality implicit from Sir Richard Moore arsenic the 18th Chief, besides known arsenic "C", erstwhile helium steps down successful the autumn.

"The historical assignment of Blaise Metreweli comes astatine a clip erstwhile the enactment of our quality services has ne'er been much vital," Sir Keir Starmer said successful a connection released connected Sunday night.

"The United Kingdom is facing threats connected an unprecedented standard - beryllium it aggressors who nonstop their spy ships to our waters oregon hackers whose blase cyber plots question to disrupt our nationalist services."

Of the different main spy agencies, GCHQ is besides nether pistillate bid for the archetypal time.

Anne Keast-Butler took connected the relation successful 2023, portion MI5 has antecedently doubly been led by a woman.

Until now, a pistillate spy main had lone headed MI6 - besides known arsenic the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) - successful the James Bond movies.

Dame Judi Dench held the fictional relation - called "M" successful the films alternatively of "C" - betwixt 1995 and 2015.

Ms Metreweli presently serves arsenic "Q", 1 of 4 manager generals wrong MI6.

The presumption - besides made celebrated by the James Bond films, with the fictional "Q" producing an array of spy gadgets - means she is liable for exertion and innovation.

Ms Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 successful 1999.

Unlike the outgoing chief, who spent immoderate of his work arsenic a regular diplomat successful the overseas office, including arsenic ambassador to Turkey, she has spent her full vocation arsenic an quality officer.

Much of that clip was dedicated to operational roles successful the Middle East and Europe.

Ms Metreweli, who is highly regarded by colleagues, besides worked arsenic a manager astatine MI5.

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In a statement, she said she was "proud and honoured to beryllium asked to pb my service".

"MI6 plays a captious relation - with MI5 and GCHQ - successful keeping the British radical harmless and promoting UK interests overseas," she said.

"I look guardant to continuing that enactment alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our galore planetary partners."

Sir Richard said: "Blaise is simply a highly accomplished quality serviceman and leader, and 1 of our foremost thinkers connected technology. I americium excited to invited her arsenic the archetypal pistillate caput of MI6."