A PROFESSOR of medicine, a chief executive and the former West Midlands Mayor are among the Silhillians who have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.
Residents have been awarded with a Knighthood, OBEs, MBEs and CBEs for their services to the public, energy security and medical science.
Among those recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours List is the former West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, who is already a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and has now been made a Knight Bachelor for public service.
The former John Lewis managing director was elected as the first mayor of the West Midlands in May 2017 and served two terms for the Conservatives until he lost to Labour’s Richard Parker in May 2024.
Sir Andy said: “Behind the scenes were some of the most dedicated people I have ever had the pleasure to work with.
“From the front desk to the executives and the political leaders at the West Midlands Combined Authority, to colleagues across the public, private and charitable sectors, their selflessness and passion for the West Midlands made all of this and more possible.
“They are the people who you don’t always get to hear from, but who give everything day after day to try and improve citizens’ lives.
“This honour is for them, alongside a heartfelt thank you from me for the teamwork that made the West Midlands a better place.”
Professor of Medicine at the University of Leeds, Paul Stewart, has been awarded a CBE for services to medical science.
Professor Stewart has led new discoveries in hypertension and metabolic and endocrine diseases.
His 40 years of clinical service in the NHS as a consultant endocrinologist included 13 years of executive leadership in medical schools and health faculties at the universities of Leeds and Birmingham.
He has been actively involved in nurturing and supporting early research careers, and is a former chair of the Clinical Academic Training Forum and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Professor Stewart said: “I am truly humbled by this national honour. It has been a huge privilege to be able to contribute to a research-embedded UK health ecosystem and in doing so improve the lives and health outcomes of our patients.”
Michael Lewis, the chief executive at Uniper – a Düsseldorf-based energy company – has been bestowed a CBE for services to Energy Security and Net Zero.
Michael Lewis was appointed the chief executive role at Uniper in June 2023, and he also holds the role of chief sustainability officer.
He said: “I feel really honoured to be recognised for my contribution to the energy industry, with a CBE in the New Year Honours list for 2025.
“It’s a privilege to continue to work in the energy industry and lead Uniper, at this time of change. This recognition motivates us all to continue working on our mission to ensure a reliable and greener energy supply.”
Other Solihull residents include Marimouttou Coumarassamy the deputy chief operating officer at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, and founder and chair of the British Indian Nurse Association who was awarded a MBE for services to Supporting International Nurses.
Professor Gavin David Perkins dean of Medicine at the University of Warwick was bestowed a MBE for services to Resuscitation Science.
Dr Alan James Belfield the former business co-chair at Professional Business Services Council and former chair at Arup was awarded an OBE for services to Business.
