David Chapman, Senior Official Receiver for the Insolvency Service, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.
Mr Chapman, from Surrey, has been awarded an OBE for his outstanding contribution to public service through his leadership in managing some of the most complex and nationally significant insolvencies in UK history.
He has been working for the Insolvency Service for 42 years.
In response to the news, David Chapman said
I am deeply honoured to accept this recognition, which reflects not only my own efforts but those of many dedicated colleagues across the Insolvency Service and the department.
It has been a privilege to lead work on some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile insolvencies, helping to safeguard public services, protect jobs and deliver meaningful returns to the economy.
I have also greatly valued the opportunity to support and develop others whose expertise will sustain this work into the future.
This honour is therefore especially pleasing to me in recognising both collective achievement and the enduring importance of public service.
The announcement was accompanied with further detail of Mr Chapman’s contribution to public service
His work has protected vital public services, preserved thousands of jobs, and delivered substantial financial recoveries back to the economy, all while navigating intense public scrutiny and political sensitivity.
He has led the resolution of three of the UK’s most high-profile insolvencies Carillion, Thomas Cook, and British Steel. He has also played a quiet but vital role in mentoring and developing junior colleagues across the Insolvency Service, often supporting them through complex legal and procedural challenges, including cross-jurisdictional insolvency matters.
His informal coaching has extended across multiple cohorts (and decades), and his influence has been instrumental in building the professional capacity of the Insolvency Service.