The senior vice president of Design at Apple, Jonathan Ive, has been awarded a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the UK's so-called 'New Year's Honors' list. The award recognizes Ive's international achievement in the field of industrial design, having led the team responsible for the design of groundbreaking products such as the iMac, iBook, Powerbook and iPod at Apple.

Announcing the award today in San Francisco, British Consul-General in San Francisco Martin Uden said, "I am delighted that out of the many Brits working in Silicon Valley, Jonathan has been honored in this way. His creation of these icons of modern life places him head and shoulders above his contemporaries and shows the relevance to us all of excellence in design. Even in the tremendously rich and diverse field of design in the UK, whether artistic or industrial, Jonathan's contribution is a real stand-out. This is a rare honor to be given to Britons overseas and Jonathan can be truly proud to have been recognized in this way."

"It is a personal and professional honor to receive this award from Her Majesty," said Ive. "The CBE is a rewarding acknowledgement of my work as a designer. As a Briton, I couldn't be more thrilled."

Since 1996, London-born Ive has been responsible for leading a design team widely regarded as one of the world's best. Recognized with numerous design awards, Apple products have become celebrated design icons featured in the permanent collections of museums worldwide including MOMA in New York and the Pompidou in Paris. Ive holds a Bachelor of Arts and an honorary doctorate from Newcastle Polytechnic. In 2003, he was named Designer of the Year by the Design Museum in London and awarded the title Royal Designer for Industry by the Royal Society of Arts.

British Honors are awarded on merit for exceptional achievement or service to British interests. Announcements of these awards are made twice yearly, at the New Year and on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's Official Birthday in June. The rank of Commander is the third most senior rank of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an order created by King George V in 1917. It is awarded to individuals in recognition of their contribution and service to British interests in the UK and overseas.