Former Aviva leader recognised with CBE in New Year Honours list

Cathryn Riley has been awarded a CBE in the 2026 New Year Honours List for her services to business leadership and inclusion.

Riley, who has held a number of senior executive and non-executive roles across the UK general insurance and wider financial services markets, was recognised for her leadership and advocacy for inclusion across boardrooms and executive teams.

She is currently senior independent director and chair of the risk committee at Liberty Managing Agency, non-executive director and chair of remuneration at Nucleus Financial Group and an advisor to a number of insurance and insurtech businesses.

Her previous roles include chair of AA Insurance Services, non-executive director at the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and board positions at Chubb, AA PLC and International Personal Finance.

Riley also spent more than a decade at Aviva, where she held several senior executive positions.

This includes group chief operations officer, group chief information officer and UK commercial director.

‘Delighted and proud’

In a post on LinkedIn announcing the honour, Riley said she was “truly delighted and proud” to receive the CBE, adding that she was ”humbled to have been recognised for my contribution to business leadership and inclusion”.

She added that supporting others, “especially women in business”, had been a defining and rewarding part of her career, and also paid tribute to The Eve Appeal, the gynaecological cancer charity she supports.

Her CBE adds to a growing list of senior insurance figures recognised in recent honours lists, reflecting the industry’s increasing focus on leadership, governance and diversity at board level.