The banking sector was the main beneficiary in the world of business from this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. There was a knighthood for James Crosby chief executive of HBOS, for services to the finance industry, and another former HBOS man, George Mitchell is appointed OBE. Mr Mitchell is a former head of corporate banking at HSBC and governor of the Bank of Scotland. A third banker, Douglas Flint, the finance director of HSBC, is appointed OBE.
There are three knighthoods for well-known City names. Don Cruickshank is a former telecoms regulator and a former chief executive of the London Stock Exchange who in 2000 produced a report for the Government on competitiveness in banking. He is awarded for public service.
David Michels is the former chief executive of the Hilton Group who was recently revealed in The Times to be planning his own £1 billion fund to invest in the hotels industry. John Sunderland is the chairman of Cadbury Schweppes and current president of the CBI.
One Scottish grandee of industry is honoured with a knighthood. Brian Ivory is a former chairman of Highland Distillers, but his award is for his work chairing the board of trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland.
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