Subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon IT system scandal recognised in 2025 New Year's Honours
- CEO of Chanel and Chair of the London Stock Exchange among those honoured today
- Jo Hamilton and other postmasters given OBE for their tireless work on the Post Office campaign
A number of top business leaders - including the Chair of Babcock and CEO of Chanel - have been honoured by the King in the 2025 New Year's Honours for their innovation, excellence and leadership in growing the UK economy.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is pleased to see recipients across the UK being recognised for their role in creating jobs and prosperity in their communities and for the country.
Subpostmasters - including Jo Hamilton OBE - have been recognised in the List for their tireless campaign for justice for those caught up in the Horizon IT system scandal: one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
The business leaders in the New Year's Honours List and their companies are the lifeblood of our economy and those receiving awards should be very proud of what they have achieved and for flying the flag both at home and abroad.
I'm also pleased to see a group of Horizon sub-postmasters included. They deserve special recognition for their tireless campaign for postmasters who have waited far too long to get justice - and we remain committed to seeing justice done.
Recipients include:
Dame Ruth Cairnie DBE, the first female Chair of defence firm Babcock in their 130 year history, who has received a DBE for her transformation of Babcock since 2019 - with a £242 million profit in 2024. Cairnie has also been recognised for Babcock's role in supporting national security via the operation of Skynet, the Ministry of Defence's satellite communication system.
Sir Edward Braham KT, the chair of M&G, has been awarded a KT for services to corporate law and business. Under his leadership he has grown the company to be one of the top five advice businesses in the UK, with 4.6m retail customers and more than 900 institutional clients, while M&G is one of the largest market investors in Europe and among the top 10 globally with assets of over £360 billion.
Leena Nair CBE, the Global CEO of Chanel, has been given a CBE for services to the retail and consumer sector - with Chanel being the biggest investor in the UK cultural landscape under her leadership and commitment.
Simon Murphy OBE, who spearheaded the £10bn redevelopment of Battersea Power Station with tireless dedication, transforming a derelict 42-acre former industrial site into a vibrant town centre comprised of shops, over 4,000 homes, offices (including Apple's new London campus), new transport infrastructure and leisure spaces.
Other recipients include Donald Robert CBE, the Chair of the London Stock Exchange Group, for his services to the financial services industry, Sir Edward Braham KT, the Chair of M&G, Mai Fyfield CBE, an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Premier League, ASOS and the BBC. Sir Bryan Sanderson KT, who recently chaired the Low Pay has been knighted.
Dame Ruth Cairnie DBE said:
I believe strongly that the UK benefits greatly from having leading sovereign companies and have been fortunate to serve with a number of them. It is a great privilege to be the Chair of Babcock and to support the team in the critical reset they have delivered. I am also highly committed to the importance of diversity in business and am encouraged by the gradual but continued increase in female representation in Defence, Energy and other sectors. I am deeply honoured by this recognition.
Sir Edward Braham KT said:
It is a true privilege to be recognised in the New Year's Honour's list. I've always been a passionate believer in the power of British business and the amazing community of people that work within it. During my career I have been fortunate to work with some brilliant organisations and this award recognises the crucial role that they play too.
Leena Nair CBE said:
I am deeply grateful for this profound honour. This recognition reinforces our commitment as a business to have a positive impact in the world. I am thankful to my passionate and dedicated teams whose support makes all this possible. It inspires me to continue striving for excellence and contributing to wider society. I hope it encourages others to break barriers and follow their dreams.
Simon Murphy OBE said:
I was surprised and delighted to receive this honour. The restoration of Battersea Power Station and the surrounding area, delivering the Northern Line extension and creating a new community for London and more than 6,000 jobs was an incredible effort by everyone involved. This honour rewards that effort, persistence and ingenuity and is for all of Team Battersea and our Malaysian shareholders without whom none of this would have been achieved.
