Nest CEO, Helen Dean, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to pension saving in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Dean was one of the architects of the auto-enrolment policy, having previously been tasked with coming up with a solution to the UK’s under-saving in pensions during her 30 years at the Department for Work and Pensions.

She has been Nest chief executive for the past four years, overseeing its growth into the largest pension provider by membership in the country, and is also an advocate for increased diversity in the industry.

In particular, Dean signed the Women in Finance Charter on behalf of Nest, as well as overseeing the creation of it's first diversity group and publishing Nest's gender pay report, despite the provider being exempt.

Commenting on the CBE, Dean said: "This is a huge honour and I'm humbled to join such a prestigious group of people who have achieved so much.

"There are many, many people who were part of the long journey to make auto-enrolment pensions a reality, transforming the retirement prospects of millions of people in the UK.

"I am proud and grateful to have been able to play my part. It's an incredible privilege to do a job that makes a real difference in people's lives.

"I know that all of my fantastic colleagues at Nest feel the same sense of purpose and I'm enormously grateful for their hard work and dedication to our members.

"While I have been recognised today, I would like to pass on that recognition to each and every one of my team, without whom Nest would not be the world class pension scheme that it is, providing better retirements for working people across the country.”

Nest chair, Otto Thoresen, added: “We are very proud of Helen and this honour couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person.

"She works tirelessly to bring about her vision of improving the future for millions of people and she never for a minute forgets about the members that Nest was set up to serve.

"On behalf of the Nest Board I’d like to congratulate Helen on this very well deserved recognition.”

The appointment also follows the recognition of pension professionals in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, with The Pensions Regulator chair, Mark Boyle, and Pension Protection Fund chief customer officer, Sara Protheroe, both receiving honours.

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