A CBE is awarded to people to recognise a positive impact they have made in their work
David Howden has been honoured in King Charles’ Birthday Honours list.
The founder and chief executive of UK broker Howden has been awarded a CBE for services to the insurance industry.
He started his career as a broker at Alexander Howden in 1981 and then founded Howden in 1994, originally as a wholesale broker employing just three people.
A CBE is awarded to people to recognise a positive impact they have made in their work. It is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, followed by OBE and then MBE.
Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: ”I am immensely proud to see so many outstanding individuals recognised in the 2025 Birthday Honours for their exceptional contributions to British business and trade.
”These honours reflect the innovation, resilience and leadership that drives our economy forward.”
Breaking £3bn revenue barrier
The award comes after Howden broke the £3bn revenue barrier last year as it secured double-digit organic growth.
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In a trading update published on 5 February 2025, the broker said its adjusted revenue sat at £3.01bn in the year to 30 September 2024, up from £2.44bn the previous year.
Overall, organic revenue growth sat at 15%, higher than the 13% reported the previous year.
David Howden said : “Our 30th year proved to be one to remember. We broke the £3bn revenue barrier, we delivered double-digit organic growth for the fourth consecutive year and a revenue CAGR of 40% over the same period.
“What’s our secret sauce? The quality of our remarkable people.”
His career began in 2019, when he joined a local north London newspaper after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a first-class honours degree in journalism.
He took up the position of deputy news editor at Insurance Times in March 2023, before being promoted to his current role in May 2024.View full Profile
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