Mitesh Sheth, the former CEO of Redington, has been awarded an MBE for his contributions to diversity and inclusion in the financial services sector. Legal & General CEO Nigel Wilson has been given a knighthood for his contributions to the financial industry and former Scottish Widows head Johnny Timpson has been awarded an OBE.
Sheth stepped down as Redington CEO at the end of 2021 after eight years with the firm. During his five years as CEO, Redington oversaw an increase in employee numbers from less than 80 to more than 200. Redington has also managed to reduce its gender pay gap, with a current mean gender pay gap of 4.9 per cent and a bonus pay gap of 3.5 per cent. Redington has aligned its default client investment advice to the Paris Agreement goals over the last year, assisting all of its clients in transitioning to net-zero by 2050, and has offset its historic carbon emissions with a commitment to continue doing so in the future.
Sheth serves on the Diversity Project’s advisory board, is an active member of the CEO sponsor group for the gender workstream, is an LGBT Great #50for50 ally, an executive sponsor of the Race & Ethnicity workstream, and a regular speaker on industry panels, conferences, and in schools about the importance of diversity and inclusion. Sheth has been recognised for both his personal and professional contributions to the Divine Youth Association, a charity founded by late Templeton Prize winner Pandurang Shastri Athavale.
Sheth said: “I feel blessed to have been recognised for this important work we have been doing over the past few years. It has been a big collaborative effort and it needs to be as there is still a very long way to go.”
“The pandemic has further increased the inequalities in our society – we need less talk and more action. If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we’ll continue to get the results that we have always got. As leaders, we have a responsibility and opportunity to change ourselves, our teams, our organisations and over time the world. We must begin with empathy and compassion for our fellow human beings, create a safe space to talk and learn openly, be agile in failing fast and sharing lessons to build bridges for all those that are being left behind. I am inspired every day by the many incredible people, past and present, who are creating a more sustainable and equitable industry and world for our children.”
Legal & General CEO Nigel Wilson has been awarded a knighthood for his contributions to the finance industry and regional development.
Wilson joined the firm as group chief financial officer in September 2009 and has been group chief executive since 2012. Legal and General has grown to become the UK’s first £1 trillion investment manager during Dr Wilson’s tenure as CEO. Profit has more than doubled to £2.4bn (9 per cent compound annual growth) and dividends have nearly tripled. Wilson has outlined a long-term vision for the £1.3 trillion in funds managed by Legal and General, which includes increased investment in infrastructure and economic regeneration.
Johnny Timpson was also given an OBE for his contributions to the disability and financial sectors.
Timpson has over 40 years of experience in the insurance and banking industries, including seven years as a financial resilience and protection insurance specialist at Scottish Widows. Timpson, a champion of inclusion and diversity, has assisted the third sector and consumer groups with insurance issues and has served as the Cabinet Office disability and access ambassador for the insurance sector and, on an interim basis, the banking sector for the last three years. Last year, Timpson began a three-year term as a member of the independent Financial Services Consumer Panel.