Douglas Perkins, the co-Founder and Chair of Specsavers, has been made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, (CBE), in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
He’s been recognised for his significant services to business and trade, with a nomination coming through the UK Cabinet Office.
Alongside his wife Dame Mary Perkins DBE, Mr Perkins founded Specsavers in 1984 in Guernsey, and from its humble beginnings, Specsavers has grown into the world’s largest privately owned optical and audiology retailer, with over 2,700 stores and more than 46,000 partners and employees globally.
Mary Perkins herself received a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2007 for her services to business and the community.
Mr Perkins’ new CBE is a testament to their entrepreneurial spirit, his dedication to challenging norms in the business sector, and the immense positive impact Specsavers has had on millions of people by providing essential eye and hearing care.
Mr Perkins CBE said: “I can’t tell you how honoured I feel to receive this award for services to business as I have dedicated my entire career to helping people to see and hear more clearly.
“But more importantly, this is recognition for the 45,000 people around the world who work for Specsavers and for our ophthalmic surgery business Newmedica and their dedication to changing people’s lives through better sight and hearing.”
He Perkins continued: “I am just as passionate now as I ever was about the future of optometry, ophthalmology and audiology, as well as further opportunities and expansion of the Specsavers group, which includes our Newmedica eye hospitals in England.
“Improving access to expert eye and hearing care for everyone, regardless of their circumstances or where they live, has been and will continue to be our driving force and I have no intention of retiring as long as I can continue to be useful to that cause”.