Britain's MI6 spy agency to be lead by first female chief

The United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, is getting its first female chief.

The U.K. government announced on Sunday that Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed Blaise Metreweli to the position “at a time when the United Kingdom faces increased threats from our adversaries.”

Metreweli oversees technology and innovation in her current role as director general “Q” at MI6, the government added.

“The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,” Starmer said in the statement.

“The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services,” he added.

In a post on the social platform X Monday, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “Delighted to appoint the next Chief of MI6.”

“At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, our intelligence services work behind the scenes every day to keep us secure,” he added. “With Blaise Metreweli, our national security is in safe hands.”