Clara Furse, the first woman Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange, has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list as a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), “for services to the financial services industry”.

Clara Furse, LSE Chief Executive.

Mrs Furse, who successfully saw off unwanted takeover approaches for the exchange from Nasdaq, Deutsche Borse, OMX and others, will receive the equivalent of a Knighthood for her efforts.

Other business leaders recognised in the awards with Knighthoods include Michael Snyder, the former Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s policy and resources committee, and Moir Lockhead, who transformed the regional bus company, FirstGroup.