Amanda Blanc, the group CEO of Aviva, has been made a Dame in the New Year Honours list for “services to business, to gender equality and to net-zero.”

Ms Blanc ran into controversy towards the end of 2022 with comments to MPs that she would personally oversee senior appointments to stop them being filled with white men.

Ms Blanc has been a long term campaigner for greater diversity on boards and at senior level.

She was born and grew up in the Rhondda Valley and is a regular visitor to the area. She started her career as a graduate at one of Aviva’s ancestor companies, Commercial Union. She became Aviva group CEO in July 2020.

Also honoured was AJ Bell founder Andy Bell who received a CBE for “services to the financial sector.”

Receiving a knighthood was Stephen Hester, the former chief executive of RBS chief executive who led the bank following the financial crisis. He is now chairman of easyJet.

Joanna Swash, CEO of Moneypenny, received an OBE for services to the economy.