UK Poised to Name First Female MI6 Chief

Updated June 7,2025

The United Kingdom is on the⁢ cusp of selecting its first female chief of the ⁣Secret⁢ Intelligence Service (MI6),marking a potential turning point for the agency. Two women are reportedly the final candidates for the role, traditionally known as “C,” which involves recruiting agents for overseas intelligence gathering.

After a selection‍ process that narrowed down four candidates,⁣ Barbara Woodward, the UK’s permanent representative to the UN and former ambassador to China, is competing ‍against a current female MI6 officer.The identity of the internal candidate remains confidential due to the sensitive nature of MI6 staffing.

The appointment of a woman ‍to lead MI6 would be a historic first in⁢ the agency’s century-long history. The new chief will succeed ‍Sir Richard ⁢Moore this autumn, ⁢who advocated for greater diversity during his tenure. Moore had ‍pledged to be the last “C” chosen from an all-male shortlist.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy will make⁣ the final decision after consultations, with input expected from National Security ⁤Adviser Jonathan Powell. The Cabinet Office,under Pat McFadden,has overseen the ⁤selection process.

An announcement is anticipated in the coming weeks, delayed⁤ in part to avoid coinciding with‍ the UK’s strategic‍ defense review. Jonathan allen,director-general of ⁤defense⁢ and intelligence at the foreign,Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO),and another MI6 insider were also considered.

The potential appointment follows a fictional precedent set 30 years ⁤ago when Dame Judi Dench portrayed the head of ⁣MI6 in the James ‍Bond film GoldenEye. However, MI6 ⁢has lagged behind other intelligence agencies in appointing women to leadership roles.

MI5, the UK’s ⁢domestic intelligence agency, previously appointed Dame Stella Rimington in 1992 and Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller in 2002 ⁢as directors-general. GCHQ, the UK’s signals intelligence ‍agency, named Anne Keast-Butler as its first female director two years ago.Gina ⁢Haspel also served as the first female director of the CIA during Donald Trump’s presidency.

The incoming MI6 chief will ⁢face important challenges,⁤ including addressing threats from russia and Iran, ‍and also‍ the increasing risk of ⁤cyber attacks. Maintaining relationships within the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance will also be crucial.

While⁢ some former ambassadors have become SIS chiefs, Woodward’s potential appointment would be unusual given her lack of direct experience within MI6.Moore, in contrast, joined MI6 after university and spent over two‍ decades in the⁣ agency before becoming ambassador to Turkey.

What’s next

The new ⁢MI6 chief will⁤ be ‍tasked with navigating a complex global ⁣landscape, focusing on counter-terrorism, cyber security, and maintaining international intelligence partnerships.