Minouche Shafik, Andy Street and Jamie Murray Wells: These are the business grandees honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list

 

It’s the Queen’s birthday tomorrow – and what better way to kick off the celebrations than announce which of the nation’s great and good will don a hat and trip off to Buckingham Palace to receive an award.

 

Among the 1,163 people named, there are 86 years between the oldest and youngest recipients – the oldest is 103-year-old Dr William Frankland, who will be honoured for his research into allergies, while the youngest is 17-year-old fundraiser Natasha Lambert.

 

But what of those in the City? Here some of business’ brightest named in this year’s list. 

One of several deputy governors of the Bank of England appointed by Mark Carney last year, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik has been one of several monetary policy committee members to hint at a rate rise in the next few months. She’s being honoured for services to public administration and the global economy. 

One of three partners at London-based tech VC firm Passion Capital, Burbidge is a mainstay of City A.M.’s Fintech Powerlist. Her firm’s investments haven’t been without controversy – one was Lulu, an app that lets women rate men, but she is nevertheless an increasingly powerful force in Silicon Roundabout. She’s being honoured for services to business. 

Having founded online Specsavers rival Glasses Direct after he left university, Murray Wells – who is famously in the inner circle of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – was also a co-founder of Startup Britain, a government-funded scheme for entrepreneurs. He’ll be honoured for services to business.

One of the key architects of the UK’s bank bailout strategy, former UBS banker stepped down from his role as chairman of UK Financial Investments, the body which manages the government’s stakes in bailed-out banks, in September, to join investment bank Centerview Partners as its UK chairman. He will be honoured for his services to taxpayers and the economy. 

The managing director of John Lewis has arguably the best job in retail. Appointed as managing director in 2007, sales have increased by 50 per cent since he joined. Not surprisingly, he’s being honoured for his services to economic growth.

The FT’s Mrs Moneypenny is a former investment banker who’s written six books, providing advice on everything from getting a job in the City to women with ambition. She’s also presented six TV series of Superscrimpers for Channel 4. She’s being honoured for her services to business, especially employment, skills and diversity in the workplace.