The chief executive of Sainsbury's, Simon Roberts, has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King's New Year Honours list. The honour recognises his significant services to the retail industry.
Leading Through Unprecedented Challenges
Simon Roberts took charge of the UK's second-largest supermarket chain in 2020, succeeding Mike Coupe. His tenure has been defined by steering the business through a series of major challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, soaring food inflation, and steep rises in operational costs.
Beyond his role at Sainsbury's, Mr Roberts has contributed to the wider sector. In 2023, he reported to the Government as part of its Business Council. The following year, he assumed the presidency of the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), a role focused on supporting the entire grocery industry.
Honours for Energy, Defence and Finance Chiefs
The New Year Honours list also celebrated several other prominent figures from the business world. John Pettigrew, the former chief executive of National Grid, was awarded a CBE for his services to the energy sector. Mr Pettigrew led the company, which manages much of Britain's electricity infrastructure, for nearly a decade before retiring last month.
In the defence sector, Ian King, the former boss of BAE Systems, received a CBE for services to transport and defence. He headed the FTSE 100 firm, Europe's largest defence contractor, for almost ten years until his retirement in 2017.
Gary Hoffman, chairman of Monzo and former head of Northern Rock, was also made a CBE for services to the economy and sport. Mr Hoffman played a key role in stabilising Northern Rock after its 2008 crisis and served as chairman of the Premier League between 2020 and 2022.
OBEs for Tech, FMCG and Retail Figures
The honours extended to other sectors with several appointments to the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Pamela Maynard, who serves as Microsoft's chief AI transformation officer, was appointed an OBE.
From the world of fast-moving consumer goods, Jonathan Hague, the head of research and development at Unilever, was also recognised with an OBE. Peter Higgins, co-founder of the menswear brand Charles Tyrwhitt, received an OBE for his contributions to retail and business.
The list underscores the wide-ranging contributions of UK business leaders across retail, energy, defence, finance, and technology, with their work formally acknowledged in the first New Year Honours of King Charles III's reign.
