Arise Sir Ben
![david-meyer.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/4e0d2eda83f664c9ba1b2a8c087d894db6b69fc8/2014/07/22/0bd49813-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a/david-meyer.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
BT's Dutch supremo, Ben Verwaayen, has been awarded an honorary KBE by the Queen, thus joining other non-British recipients such as Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates and George Bush Sr.
"This is a fantastic tribute to everyone who has worked so hard to transform BT into a communication services company with a global reach and a bright future," said Ben. It is? What, the same BT that just recently came bottom in a table of broadband customer satisfaction? I wonder who supplies connectivity to Buck House.
BT chairman Sir (snap!) Mike Rake said Verwaayen's KBE came about because he "has been a powerful advocate for the benefits of free trade and globalisation, and has engaged in a series of critical public policy debates, including his recent chairmanship of the CBI Task Force on Climate Change". Which makes more sense. Especially the first bit.