Richard Fursland, CEO of the overall British American Business Council network across the US and UK was appointed a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Already an OBE, Richard was given the honour in recognition of his services to UK-US business as the CEO of BritishAmerican Business and the BABC.

You can read the full Birthday Honours List, which was published on June 16, here.

Richard Fursland serves concurrently as Chief Executive Officer of BritishAmerican Business and the British-American Business Council (BABC).

He was actively involved in the establishment of BritishAmerican Business in 2000, from the merger of the British American Chamber of Commerce (New York/London) and the American Chamber of Commerce (UK), and then became the first Chief Executive of the merged organization.

Since then, BritishAmerican Business has established itself as the leading transatlantic business organization, with a broad portfolio of business services and 600 member companies (including many of the world’s largest multinationals) in New York and London, and networks covering 50 other cities throughout North America and Continental Europe.

Richard was also the first Chief Executive of the British-American Business Council (BABC), which has become the largest transatlantic business network, connecting 23 chapters and 2,500 member companies throughout North America and the United Kingdom. British American Business is a member of, and provides the Secretariat for, the BABC.

Richard had two previous substantial careers: in marketing communications, including an extensive spell as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for International Business at Grey Advertising/GCI Group in New York; and in the British Diplomatic Service, including postings at the British Embassy in Beijing; British Trade Commission in Hong Kong; UK Mission to the United Nations in New York; and Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

He is President of the European-American Business Council, and a Board Member of FedCap, the European-American Business Council and American Friends of Cecily’s Fund.

He has a first-class honors Degree from Cambridge University, and held a Henry Fellowship at Harvard University.

He has been living and working in New York since 1981, and is married with one daughter.