Honour for former EOC chair

Julie Mellor, former chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, has been awarded a DBE in the New Year Honours list.

She has been made a Dame of the British Empire in recognition of her major contributions to equality in organisations.

Mellor stepped down in July after six years at the Equal Opportunities Commission to become a partner at professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Her replacement, Jenny Watson, warned last week that new laws to are needed to tackle the gender pay gap and inequalities that remain in the workplace.

John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI, has been awarded an OBE for services to business. Cridland has been touted as a potential successor to Digby Jones later this year.