Following the announcement that MI6 has just appointed Blaise Metreweli as its first-ever female chief, Charlotte Philby, granddaughter of one of Britain’s most notorious double agents and author of ‘The Secret Life of Women Spies’, explains why women make brilliant spies and should be recognised for their service

Blaise Metreweli (pictured) has been appointed as the next head of the Secret Intelligence Service, replacing Sir Richard Moore in the autumn.

Blaise Metreweli joined the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in 1999 and will become its 18th chief.

Career intelligence officer Blaise Metreweli chosen as next MI6 chief, an appointment the UK prime minister called historic.

Metreweli, 47, has held series of director-level roles in foreign intelligence service and in domestic agency MI5

Blaise Metreweli is succeeding Sir Richard Moore, who leaves this autumn after four years in charge

Cambridge graduate won role ahead of rival who critics dubbed ‘Beijing Barbara’

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The new head of Britain's MI6 will be a woman for the first time in the more than 100-year history of the country's secret intelligence service, Prime Minister Keir Starmer…

Following the announcement that MI6 has just appointed Blaise Metreweli as its first-ever female chief, Charlotte Philby, granddaughter of one of Britain’s most notorious double…

From politics to business, the determination to exclude women is purely emotional – a fact that remains as unspoken as it is obvious, writes Zoe Williams

Blaise Metreweli übernimmt den Posten im Herbst. Eine MI6-Chefin gab es bisher nur in James-Bond-Filmen.

Blaise Metreweli será la primera mujer directora del MI6. Un cambio histórico en el servicio de inteligencia exterior del Reino Unido

A spook for over a quarter of a century, Metreweli was ‘Q’ at the spy agency. Now she’ll be known as ‘C’. Here’s why.