First woman to head British secret service MI6

She was previously a director at MI5, the domestic security agency, and spent most of her career working in the Middle East and Europe.

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Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

A woman will head the British intelligence service MI6 for the first time in its 116-year history.

Blaise Metruelli, who joined the Secret Service in 1999, will be the organization's 18th director, taking over from Ruchard Moore later this year.

Metruelli, who is currently responsible for innovation and technology at the service, said she was "proud and honored" to be offered the role of leading the organization.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called her appointment "historic" at a time "when the work of our intelligence service has never been more important."

MI6 collects intelligence to improve the security of the United Kingdom, with the key aim of stopping terrorism, disrupting the activities of hostile states and strengthening cyber security.

Only the identity of the head of the service, often referred to as "C", is known.

Metruelli, 47, is currently the CEO of Q, and heads the technology and innovation department, which aims to keep agents' identities secret and find new ways to evade enemies like China, namely biometric surveillance of this country.

"MI6 plays a key role, along with MI5 and GCHQ (another UK intelligence, security and cyber agency), in safeguarding the security of the British people and in promoting the UK's interests abroad," Metruelli said.

"I look forward to continuing to work alongside the brave officers, MI6 agents and many international partners."

Metruelli, who studied anthropology at Cambridge University, was previously a director at MI5, the domestic security agency, and spent most of her career working in the Middle East and Europe.

Speaking to the London Telegraph in December 2021, while still at MI5, under the pseudonym “Director K”, she said that threats to UK national security were “real and diverse”.

"The threats we deal with are primarily related to protecting the government, protecting secrets, protecting our people, which means countering assassinations, protecting the economy, sensitive technology and key knowledge," she said.

"The activity of the Russian state, not Russia itself, remains the threat," she said at the time, adding that China "is changing the world, which presents incredible opportunities and threats for the UK."

What does "C" do?

  • C is the head of MI6, which is officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service, and reports to the Foreign Secretary.
  • C is also on the Joint Intelligence Committee, with the heads of other departments and senior government officials. He receives intelligence reports, analyses the current situation and advises the Prime Minister.
  • It is often mistakenly thought that "C" stands for "chief" (boss). The first British spy agency, called the Secret Bureau, was founded in the 1900s. It was led by a Royal Navy officer, Captain Mansfield Cumming. He always signed his letters with a "C" and that code name stuck.
  • Cumming wrote in green ink. To this day, the director of MI6 remains the only person in Whitehall who writes in green.
  • Does C give agents a "licence to kill"? No. The Foreign Secretary can do that. Under the Security Services Act 1994, an MI6 agent can be given permission to do things that would otherwise be illegal, including the use of deadly force. But it's a long and complicated process.

The organization that Blaise Metruelli will lead faces numerous, previously unheard-of challenges.

These challenges come primarily from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, who work closely together to undermine UK and Western objectives around the world.

However, there are also technical challenges.

MI6's role is to recruit agents who would steal secrets from Britain's enemies, which include hostile states, but also groups like Al Qaeda.

In an age of accelerated digital innovation, MI6 must maintain an edge over its adversaries, as more and more information is now being gathered from online spaces and space.

Outgoing chief Richard Moore, along with then-CIA chief William Burns, warned that the world faced "a danger not seen since the Cold War."

In an article for the Financial Times, the two wrote that in addition to the war in Ukraine, the two foreign intelligence services continue to cooperate to disrupt "Russian intelligence sabotage" across Europe.

They cited the rise of China as the greatest security and geopolitical challenge.

They also emphasized that they "strongly" advocated for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East.

Richard Moore, who will step down as director of MI6 in the autumn after five years, said he was "delighted by the historic appointment" of his colleague.

"Blaise is an extremely successful intelligence officer and leader, and one of our flagships in the field of technology," he says.

David Lemmy, the British foreign secretary, to whom Metrulli will report, said she was the "ideal" candidate and would ensure the UK could confront "global instability and security threats".

Paying tribute to Richard Moore for his service and leadership, Lemmy said he had worked closely with him and thanked him for his "valuable contribution to improving our national security and protecting the British public."

Keir Starmer also thanked Moore for his "dedicated service".

"I know that Blaise will continue to demonstrate the extraordinary leadership needed to defend our country and keep our people safe," he added.

Additional reporting by Holly Cole.

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