Helen Dean awarded CBE in New Year's Honours for services to pension saving

Former pensions minister Eagle named on list too

Jonathan Stapleton
clock • 1 min read

Nest Pensions chief executive Helen Dean has been awarded a CBE for services to pension savings in the New Year Honours 2021.

Dean was one of the architects of auto-enrolment - working at the Department of Work and Pensions to help develop a solution to the UK's chronic under-saving in pensions before moving to the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (PADA) to help build the scheme which became Nest.

She led the product, marketing and operations arms of Nest before becoming the organisation's chief executive in September 2016.

Angela Eagle - the MP for Wallasey who served as minister for pensions and ageing society from June 2009 to May 2010 - was also named in the New Year Honours list, being awarded a damehood (DBE) for parliamentary and political service.

Christopher Woolard was also given a CBE - he acted as the temporary chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority in between Andrew Bailey and Nikhil Rathi's reigns from March to October in 2020.

To view the New Years Honours list in full, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-new-year-honours-2021

More on Pensions

King's Speech has limited impact on pensions

King's Speech has limited impact on pensions

Pensions UK says there may be pension implications from other aspects of the legislative programme

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 13 May 2026 • 1 min read
Pensions and divorce: Where advisers can add the most value

Pensions and divorce: Where advisers can add the most value

'A pension is not simply another line on a balance sheet'

Tim Latham
clock 12 May 2026 • 4 min read
'A paralysis of the UK pension system' - The reality of transfer delays

'A paralysis of the UK pension system' - The reality of transfer delays

Provider ‘stalling’ causing tense SASS client case

Isabel Baxter
clock 12 May 2026 • 6 min read

In-depth

Why firms are kicking off with advice for professional sportspeople

Why firms are kicking off with advice for professional sportspeople

‘Unpredictable’ careers and education gap playing a part

Sophia Panayi
clock 12 May 2026 • 8 min read
Standard Life/Aegon UK deal signals provider 'shrinkflation' as advisers await impact

Standard Life/Aegon UK deal signals provider 'shrinkflation' as advisers await impact

'Strategically smart, operationally delicate'

Isabel Baxter
clock 15 April 2026 • 7 min read
Are AI tools the new robo advisers?

Are AI tools the new robo advisers?

Reform not replacement

Laura Miller
clock 07 April 2026 • 8 min read