TIGA CEO Richard Wilson receives OBE in New Years Honours list

The head of UK development trade body TIGA had received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire)

Richard Wilson was awarded the accolade in the New Year's Honours list for his services to the video games industry.

He is one of 1,123 people who appear on the list. Only Wilson comes directly from the video games business, although DeepMind researcher Demis Hassabis receives a CBE, as does techUK chief executive Jacqueline de Rojas, while Blippar co-founder Jessica Butcher gets an MBE.

Wilson has acted as CEO of TIGA for almost a decade, joining the trade body in 2008. He was one of the most vocal supporters and campaigners for the Video Games Tax Relief, which was introduced to assist UK games studios.

"I am grateful, honoured and delighted to have been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year 2018 Honours List," he said in a statement. "It is a privilege to serve as CEO of TIGA. I would like to thank the TIGA Board, the TIGA team, and the TIGA network for giving me the opportunity to serve the video games industry.   At TIGA, my focus, objective and ambition has been to make the UK the best place in the world to develop games. I would like to thank those MPs, civil servants and policy makers who have worked with me over the years to have an impact and influence on policy and so strengthen our industry.

"I hope to continue to change, improve and enhance the environment for our sector in order to benefit TIGA members, the games industry and the wider UK economy."