Poppy Gustafsson will be honored as business leaders are knighted in the New Years’ Honors list
Former HSBC boss Noel Quinn, ex-Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East and Darktrace founder Poppy Gustafsson are among the business leaders presented with the gongs in the New Years’ Honors list.
Quinn has been knighted in recognition of his contribution ‘to financial services and net zero’.
The HSBC veteran, who worked at the bank for 37 years, shocked the city when he stepped down from his top job this year after taking over in 2020.
He oversaw a transformation of the lender that included cutting 35,000 jobs and posting record profits last year.
And he opposed an attempt by Chinese insurer Ping An, a major shareholder, to break up the 159-year-old bank.
Announcing his retirement in April, Quinn, 62, said he would have a period of “rest and relaxation” before transitioning to a portfolio career, meaning he would take on a number of boardroom roles.
Cyber services: Poppy Gustafsson, who had already been awarded an OBE in 2019, was yesterday presented with a CBE for ‘services to the cyber security industry’
East, who led Rolls-Royce for seven and a half turbulent years, has been knighted for ‘services to the economy and to net zero’. In 2014 he received a CBE.
His tenure at the engineering firm included the Covid-19 pandemic, which dealt a blow to the aircraft engine maker’s finances.
East, who was previously CEO of computer chip maker Arm, also led the company through a major corruption investigation related to fraud that occurred before he joined the company.
The 63-year-old businessman retired in 2022 and said it was the right time for him to leave as Rolls-Royce was at “a crossroads.”
He has since been appointed chairman of British air traffic service provider NATS and sits on the board of semiconductor company ASML.
Gustafsson, who was awarded an OBE in 2019, was yesterday presented with a CBE for ‘services to the cyber security industry’.
She co-founded Cambridge-based Darktrace in 2013, which uses artificial intelligence in software to protect organizations from online threats.
Gustafsson started Darktrace after a two-year stint at Autonomy, the technology company led by the late British billionaire Mike Lynch.
She was CEO until September, when she resigned ahead of a £4 billion private equity takeover of the company.
The following month, Gustafsson – one of the best-known figures in the British technology sector – was appointed to the government as Investment Secretary.
Other City figures recognized in the annual awards include the chairman of engineering firm Babcock, Ruth Cairnie, who will become a dame, and the chairman of investment manager M&G, Edward Braham, who will be knighted. Don Robert, chairman of the London Stock Exchange Group, has been awarded a CBE.
Richard Price, managing director at Marks & Spencer, where he oversees clothing, home and beauty products, has been appointed MBE.
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