The British government has appointed Blaise Metreweli as the new Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)—better known as MI6, the United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence agency. This marks the first time in its 116-year history that the service will be led by a woman.
Metreweli succeeds Sir Richard Moore and assumes the codename “C”, continuing a tradition dating back to the very origins of the organisation. Her appointment reflects both a historic milestone in terms of gender representation and a strategic move in the face of evolving global threats, particularly in the technological domain.
An Intelligence Career Grounded in Fieldwork and Technology
Blaise Metreweli joined MI6 in 1999, following her studies in Anthropology at Cambridge University (Pembroke College). She has held numerous operational roles in the Middle East, Europe, and the UK, developing expertise in both intelligence collection and strategic analysis.
Prior to her appointment as Chief, Metreweli served as Director General for Technology and Innovation—the branch responsible for the service’s technical capabilities, digital security, and cyber tools. This role is sometimes likened to the fictional position of “Q” in the James Bond franchise, though its real-world responsibilities are far more complex and policy-driven.
“C” – The Real Codename at the Helm of MI6
In the actual Secret Intelligence Service, the Chief is known not as “M” but as “C”, a title first used by Captain Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who founded MI6 in 1909. Smith-Cumming would sign all correspondence with a green-ink “C”, a tradition that continues to this day. Each Chief who follows adopts the same initial as part of their official role.
This is in contrast to the world of James Bond, where the head of MI6 is called “M”. The codename “M” was introduced by author Ian Fleming, who based the character loosely on his own wartime superior, Rear Admiral John Godfrey, Director of Naval Intelligence. Though never explained in early novels, “M” was eventually revealed to stand for Miles Messervy in The Man with the Golden Gun (1965).
While “M” has become an iconic fixture in fiction, “C” remains the real and official title of the head of MI6.
Reality Follows Fiction
In James Bond films, particularly from the 1990s onward, the concept of female leadership within MI6 has gained greater visibility. Most notably, Dame Judi Dench portrayed “M” from GoldenEye (1995) through Skyfall (2012), bringing gravitas and emotional depth to the role.
In the upcoming game 007: First Light, a new female M oversees a young James Bond during his early missions—further continuing this narrative shift.
With Blaise Metreweli’s real-world appointment, the overlap between fiction and reality becomes more apparent. She brings both operational and technological expertise to the role—qualities that align with modern portrayals of MI6 leadership across media.
Image credit: United Kingdom Foreign Office
