Former Zurich European chief executive Gary Shaughnessy has been awarded a CBE for services to business and charity in King Charles’ birthday honours list.
Mr Shaughnessy stepped down from Zurich Insurance in 2019, four years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015.
He has chaired the board of Zurich’s charitable arm The Z Zurich Foundation since 2017, and became chair of the board of trustees of the charity Parkinson’s UK in 2019.
He helped steward the charity through the pandemic to make sure that its work continued and support remained available for those who needed it.
Mr Shaughnessy has also taken on many physical challenges to raise awareness and funds totalling more than £500,000 to date, split between Parkinson’s UK and The Z Zurich Foundation.
He has completed more than 40 marathons and last year cycled 1,400 miles from Liverpool to Ukraine.
In 2021 he became chair of The England Athletics Board, and he has a strong background in community sport, being a vice president of Whitchurch Cricket Club and enjoying more than a quarter of a century with Whitchurch United Football Club, as a player, chair, youth team manager and president.
He said: “News of this award was so unexpected but it’s such an honour to receive it. I certainly didn’t set out to receive personal accolades. I wanted to simply focus on what I could do. It was my way of taking control of my Parkinson’s and I hoped that maybe I would help a few others along the way.”
On the day that his award was announced, Mr Shaughnessy was among a team of cyclists setting off from Brighton to Barcelona. They will arrive in time for World Parkinson Congress on 4 July.
Caroline Rassell, chief executive of Parkinson’s UK, said: “Gary is a true role model both in the Parkinson’s community and more widely, so it’s wonderful to see his ongoing contributions to society recognised in this way. The dedication and passion he shows for Parkinson’s UK and all areas of our work is incredible.”
In a personal update on LinkedIn, Mr Shaughnessy added: “Awards like this underline and show the value that charities, and charitable people, make to society. It should never be forgotten that we can all make an impact.
“The award reflects the many inspirational people in Parkinson’s UK and across the Parkinson’s community who have motivated me and who share their positive message to those around them.
“It also reflects the privilege that I have to work with The Z Zurich Foundation team, Zurich people and many of our brilliant partners, who help create a brighter future for vulnerable people across the world.
“Along with this, I’m fortunate that, through England Athletics and through sport more broadly, I’ve benefitted from the joy that sport can bring and seen so many do exactly that.
“The challenges that I’ve taken on over the last eight years have only happened because of the wonderful support of friends, family and colleagues. Again and again I’ve seen humanity at its best. Thank you so much.”
Mr Shaughnessy’s professional career saw him work for the AA and the Bank of Scotland before joining AXA as UK director of marketing and brand. He spent nine years with M&G Investments & Prudential Group before joining Fidelity International with responsibility for retail and defined contribution pension businesses in the UK.
In 2012, he joined Zurich, ultimately being promoted to the group executive committee as chief executive for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, overseeing 20,000 people in 22 countries, and bank partnerships globally.
