UK Appoints First Woman to Lead MI6 — Blaise Metreweli, with Georgian Roots

In a groundbreaking appointment, the UK government has named Blaise Metreweli as the next Chief of MI6 — Britain’s storied foreign intelligence agency. This marks the first time a woman will head the Secret Intelligence Service in its 116-year history.

Metreweli’s appointment is notable not only because she breaks a historic gender barrier, but also because she is of Georgian descent — her surname, Metreweli, is a German transliteration of the Georgian name Metreveli, reflecting roots in the former Soviet republic nestled in the South Caucasus.

A Tech-Savvy Leader for a Changing World

Metreweli, 47, has spent more than two decades in British intelligence. Her career began in 1999, and she has served in multiple operational roles across Europe and the Middle East. Most recently, she headed MI6’s Directorate of Technology and Innovation — essentially Britain’s real-life “Q” — where she oversaw cutting-edge advances in cyber intelligence, AI, and digital espionage capabilities.

In her new role, she will take over from outgoing MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore later this year.

Her promotion was announced Monday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who emphasized Metreweli’s “extraordinary leadership in an era of profound technological and geopolitical change.”

From Cambridge to the Top of British Intelligence

Metreweli studied social anthropology at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where she also competed as part of the university’s rowing team in the 1997 Women’s Boat Race, helping secure a Cambridge win.

She was awarded a CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) in 2024 for her service to national security.

A Georgian Surname, a British Identity

While Metreweli holds British nationality and has spent her professional life in the UK, her surname hints at her ancestral heritage. The Georgian name “Metreveli” is well known in the Caucasus region and among the Georgian diaspora.

Her appointment has sparked quiet pride in Georgia, a nation with deep ties to both Europe and the Middle East, and a history of producing prominent émigré figures in politics, science, and the arts.

In Jewish circles, Georgia is also known for its ancient Jewish community, dating back over 2,600 years — one of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in the world. Though there is no indication that Metreweli herself is Georgian-Jewish, her connection to a country with such a storied Jewish history adds symbolic resonance for some.

Metreweli’s deep experience in Middle East operations may carry implications for UK-Israel cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.

In recent years, UK-Israel relations in the defense and intelligence spheres have quietly grown stronger, particularly in monitoring Iranian regional activity, countering Hezbollah, and defending against cyber threats.

Her appointment comes at a time when Israel’s own intelligence community is undergoing transformation — with increasing attention to AI, disinformation warfare, and next-generation cyber capabilities, all areas in which Metreweli is known to excel.

A New Era for MI6

Blaise Metreweli’s appointment is more than a symbolic victory for women in national security. It marks the modernization of one of the world’s most legendary intelligence agencies, embracing both technological change and a more inclusive leadership culture.

She will soon sign official documents in green ink, the traditional hallmark of the “C” — a tradition dating back to the founding of MI6 in 1909.

As Britain navigates a complex web of global threats — from Moscow and Tehran to Beijing and digital battlegrounds — Blaise Metreweli will be at the helm, with a rare blend of field experience, tech expertise, and a heritage that bridges East and West.