Leading City figures knighted

Leading City figures knighted
LONDON (SHARECAST) – Roger Carr, the chairman of the UK chocolate manufacturer Cadbury until it was controversially taken over by the US food giant Kraft earlier this year, is among the British business figures to have been knighted in the New Year Honours List.

Sir Roger, who is currently the chairman of the gas and electricity supplier Centrica and the president-elect of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is joined in the Honours List by the CBIs outgoing director-general Richard Lambert, the chairman of British Airways Martin Broughton and the founder of Reed Recruitment Alec Reed.

Like Sir Roger, Martin Broughton has been presiding over an iconic British company preparing to join forces with a foreign rival. British Airways and the Spanish airline Iberia are due to merge next year. Sir Martin, who is knighted for services to business, also presided over the sale of Liverpool Football Club to its current US owners.

Sir Alec Reed, who founded Reed in 1960 and established a charitable foundation, is knighted for services to business and charity.

Sir Peter Elwood, chairman of the FTSE 100-listed can and packaging maker Rexam and former chief executive of the bank Lloyds TSB, is knighted for services to business and the public sector.

Other recipients of knighthoods include Raymond Kelvin, the founder and chief executive of the fashion retailer Ted Baker.

Mark and Mo Constantine, the husband and wife behind the cosmetics chain Lush, were awarded OBEs for services to the beauty industry.