Airbus chief executive Noël Forgeard has been granted a knighthood in recognition of his services to the UK aerospace industry. Forgeard was knighted during a visit by the Queen to the Airbus final assembly plant in Toulouse. The title of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire is rarely awarded to non-UK citizens - previous foreign recipients include Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and film director Steven Spielberg. As a French citizen, Forgeard will not be referred to as "Sir Noël", but is entitled to put the letters KBE after his name.
Source: Flight International
