The British foreign intelligence agency MI6 has gained its first female chief in its 116-year history, UK Prime Minister Kir Starmers announced on Sunday.

Blaise Metrewelli, 47, a Cambridge University graduate and intelligence officer since 1999, will succeed Richard Moore to become the 18th in line to head MI6. Until recently, he was the agency’s director of technology and innovation. In her career, she has served mainly in Europe and the Middle East, and has held management positions in both MI6 and the domestic intelligence agency MI5.

“I am proud and honoured to have been asked to lead my service. MI6 plays a critical role – alongside MI5 and GCHQ (government intelligence) – in keeping British citizens safe and promoting British interests abroad,” Metrewelli said, adding that she looks forward to continuing her work “alongside the courageous officers and agents of MI6 and our international partners.”

The head of that agency, referred to as “C,” is the only member of the organization whose name is made public and is answerable to the British foreign secretary.

Metrewelli’s appointment can be described as a case of life imitating art. Film buffs will remember Judy Dench’s role as James Bond’s “boss” for 17 years in the notorious “007” film series.

The British prime minister, who announced her appointment on his arrival in Canada for the G7 summit, described her appointment as “historic” and said the leadership appointment comes “at a time when the work of our intelligence services is needed more than ever”. As she pointed out, “the UK faces unprecedented threats – whether it is hostile states sending spy ships into our waters or hackers with sophisticated cyber schemes attempting to disrupt our public services.”

For his part, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised the choice of Metrewelli, calling her “an ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future”. As he pointed out, “in an era of global instability and new security threats, where technology equals power and our adversaries are working ever more closely together, Blaise will ensure that the UK can meet these challenges with determination, protecting Britain at home and abroad.”

With the appointment of Metrewelli, MI6 becomes the latest of Britain’s major intelligence agencies to have a female leader. At MI5, the internal equivalent of MI6, Stella Rimington had led the way between 1992 and 1996, while Eliza Manningham-Buller led from 2002 to 2007. In 2023, Anne Kist-Butler became the first woman to head the electronic and cyber-espionage agency GCHQ.

Outgoing chief Richard Moore had pledged during his tenure to promote diversity in the agency, stating in 2023 that he would work to be the last “C” selected from an all-male shortlist.