NEW YORK, January 2, 2026, 05:44 ET
- Former Aviva executive Cathryn Riley was awarded a CBE for business leadership and inclusion.
- Lloyd’s of London member Dhruv Patel was awarded a CBE for civic leadership and charity.
- Both awards were listed in Britain’s 2026 New Year Honours roll.
Former Aviva executive Cathryn Riley has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in Britain’s 2026 New Year Honours list, Insurance Post reported on Friday. Dhruv Patel, a London-based civic leader linked to the insurance market, was also appointed a CBE.
The New Year Honours list is a closely watched annual roll-call of people recognised by King Charles for service in public life, business and charity. A CBE is a senior grade in the UK’s honours system.
For insurers, the awards land at the start of a new business year, when executive profiles and board credentials are under fresh scrutiny. They also highlight how “inclusion” and civic work continue to feature in citations for senior figures.
The UK government’s published list showed Riley was recognised for services to business leadership and inclusion and described her as a lately chair and non-executive director across several financial services organisations, including the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which compensates customers when financial firms fail. The same list showed Patel—who already held an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire)—was recognised for services to civic leadership and to charity. GOV.UK
Riley spent years at CGU and Aviva and held senior roles covering broker operations, Insurance Post reported. Insurance Post
Nucleus Financial, where Riley is an independent non-executive director and chairs the remuneration committee, said she also sits on the boards of FSCS and Liberty Managing Agency and previously held senior technology and operations roles at Aviva. Nucleus said she also held executive roles at health insurer Bupa as well as PwC and British Airways. Nucleus Financial
Patel wrote on LinkedIn: “Honours are never destinations: they are reminders of responsibility.” He added that recognition should translate into continued work that helps others thrive. LinkedIn
The Insurer, which covers the London market, described Patel as a Lloyd’s of London member and said he was awarded a CBE in the 2026 New Year Honours list. Lloyd’s of London is a specialist insurance marketplace where groups of insurers, known as syndicates, underwrite risk. theinsurer.com
Non-executive directors do not run day-to-day operations, but they help oversee strategy, risk and governance from the boardroom. In financial services, those roles often span multiple firms and industry bodies.
