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 consolidation deserves more respect than it gets

Pension consolidation deserves more respect than it gets

'For me, pension consolidation is a perfect illustration of why financial planning matters'

Andy Zanelli
clock 19 February 2026 • 5 min read
Divorce, pensions and professional collaboration in the HNW world

Divorce, pensions and professional collaboration in the HNW world

'Beware the attraction of the simple solution'

Richard Kershaw
clock 16 February 2026 • 3 min read
A century of the state pension – and why the next redesign is overdue

A century of the state pension – and why the next redesign is overdue

'A pension promise only works if contributors believe it is fair and durable'

Adam Cole
clock 16 February 2026 • 4 min read

In-depth

The adviser firms private equity wants in 2026

The adviser firms private equity wants in 2026

'People-led durability is now the premium asset in 2026'

Laura Miller
clock 16 February 2026 • 7 min read
Onshore bonds are back – but who is leading the call for their return?

Onshore bonds are back – but who is leading the call for their return?

'Innovation, as ever in financial services, starts by looking in the rear-view mirror'

clock 11 February 2026 • 5 min read
Student debt and advice: 'Strong case' for it to be given greater attention

Student debt and advice: 'Strong case' for it to be given greater attention

Overlooked but ‘shouldn’t be ignored’

Isabel Baxter
clock 09 February 2026 • 8 min read