Dublin, June 2005. The Chancery of the British and Irish Delegation extends its congratulations and best wishes to Sir Michael Smurfit on the occasion on his appointment as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Sir Michael Smurfit was appointed as a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I in November 2002 at a ceremony in Dublin in recognition his of contribution to charitable and humanitarian endeavour.
Sir Michael was born in St Helens, Lancashire in 1936 and holds dual Irish and British citizenship. He is Chairman of the Jefferson Smurfit Group and is a substantial contributor to the NSPCC, the Royal Opera House Trust, the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Royal Life Saving Society. Sir Michael has also provided support for the establishment of an Irish Studies Centre at the University of North London and has been a generous contributor to Co-operation North, Save the Children (Belfast) and the Warrington Peace Centre.
Sir Michael Smurfit was European of the Year 1999 (the first businessman to be honoured) and also holds the position of Honorary Irish Consul to the Principality of Monaco. In 1999, he was also awarded the inaugural Global CEO of the Year of the paper & forest products industry by the North American financial community.