The 2026 New Year Honors List highlighted a broad cross-section of UK business leaders, recognizing contributions from high-growth sectors, corporate responsibility, entrepreneurship and efforts to expand business opportunities and investment.
While the honors system covers a wide range of public service, arts, charity and science, several recipients stand out for their direct impact on the UK economy and business landscape.
Banking, finance and corporate management
Gary Andrew Hoffman – CBE
Hoffman was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to business and sport and is chairman of Monzo Bank Holding Group and Monzo Bank Ltd. His leadership comes at a time of rapid development in digital banking and a renewed focus on customer trust and regulatory compliance in UK fintech.
Ian Graham King – CBE
Awarded a CBE in recognition of his role as Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems and as Lead Non-Executive Director of the Department for Transport. King’s leadership of one of the UK’s largest defense and aerospace companies highlights the strategic importance of advanced manufacturing and technology-driven exports to the UK economy.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Champions
Jonathan Piers Daniel Linney – OBE
Honored for his contributions to small business, entrepreneurs, investors, banking and diversity, Linney is Chairman of Implement AI Ltd, a company at the intersection of technology adoption and SME scaling. Its recognition reflects the growing profile of AI-powered services in supporting UK startups and investment appetite.
Akin Onal – OBE
Onal, founder and chief executive officer of MORI, was recognized for his contributions to entrepreneurship. His work is widely associated with supporting the UK start-up ecosystem and promoting inclusive pathways to business growth.
Marie Sarah Owen – OBE
Owen, founder and managing director of LS Productions, was recognized for his contributions to the creative industries and economic development, a nod to the increasingly important role that creative and media companies play in economic vibrancy and regional growth.
Industry leadership and industry committees
Mark Bamforth – OBE
Bamforth, Executive Chairman of Kincell Bio and General Partner at the Kineticos AMR Accelerator Fund, received awards for his contributions to UK life sciences and UK-US business relations. His cross-border work in biotech funding and strategic partnerships reflects the UK’s globalizing innovation economy.
Alessandra Bellini – OBE
Former Advertising Association president Bellini was recognized for her contributions to the advertising and marketing sector – industries that support the UK’s creative exports and the growth of digital media.
Safaraz Ali – BOTH
As Chief Executive Officer of Pathway Group, Ali was honored for his leadership in diversity and inclusion in business. This award highlights how equal talent and board representation are increasingly a priority in modern British corporate culture.
Joanne Liddle – OBE
Industrial Precision Components Ltd managing director Liddle has been recognized for his achievements in the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland, a reminder of the vital role that manufacturing expertise plays in regional economies and national supply chains.
Entrepreneurial legacy and scale-up implications
Richard David Harpin – Knight Bachelor
Harpin (pictured) was knighted for his services to business and is the founder and former CEO of HomeServe, a £4.1bn home help company which now employs around 9,000 people. His career epitomizes the rise from start-up founder to industry disruptor, and his recent work with training policy highlights the role of companies in workforce development.
What this year’s list highlights is both the diversity of contributions and the newer nature of business impact in the UK: from technology and fintech to manufacturing and creative industries, the honorees cover sectors that collectively shape economic resilience and future opportunities.
This year recognizes key areas of growth and impact, highlighting that recognition at the national level often reflects broader themes in business policy and investment.
