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

Pension adequacy – are we focusing on the wrong measure of success?

Pension adequacy – are we focusing on the wrong measure of success?

'The current system can unintentionally create a false sense of reassurance'

Caitlin Southall
clock 24 July 2026 • 4 min read
Transfer changes 'a start, not the finish line', pensions industry says

Transfer changes 'a start, not the finish line', pensions industry says

Clear and practical guidance ‘essential’ to apply the new framework consistently and with confidence

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 23 July 2026 • 4 min read
Financial Vulnerability Taskforce calls on advisers to rethink retirement planning

Financial Vulnerability Taskforce calls on advisers to rethink retirement planning

Publishes guide suggesting to ‘move beyond a pensions-only approach’

Sophia Panayi
clock 22 July 2026 • 2 min read

In-depth

Rise of the money coach

Rise of the money coach

Advice hurdles pose as push factors but plenty of pull factors too

Sophia Panayi
clock 30 June 2026 • 9 min read
'Bolder moves on taxation' likely if Burnham takes prime minister role

'Bolder moves on taxation' likely if Burnham takes prime minister role

Changes to CGT would have ‘clear implications for wealth planning’

Sophia Panayi
clock 22 June 2026 • 4 min read
IHT on pensions: Advisers on a new way of working

IHT on pensions: Advisers on a new way of working

‘It has shifted the timing and focus of conversations’

Jenna Brown
clock 10 June 2026 • 8 min read