."It is a huge honor and privilege to receive this recognition from the Queen. None of this would have been possible without the support of those closest to me throughout my life, not least my family, friends and colleagues. I’m fortunate to have worked in positions which I’m very passionate about, and I hope that I have made a difference, both in the boardroom and on the field. Sport in particular has the power to change lives and I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in future.” Sir Ron (Rohinton) Kalifa, recognized with a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced in June 2022, was quoted on the website of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) where he serves as non-executive director.
Featuring among the 21 selected for the Knights Bachelor rank this year, Kalifa earned the recognition for his contribution "to financial services, to technology and to public service.” This being the 70th year of the 96-year-old Queen’s ascension to the throne, the platinum jubilee celebrations included the announcement of the annual Birthday Honours list "to mark the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK,” as noted the website
www.gov.uk. "The date of the investiture will likely be some months away,” responded Kalifa’s executive personal assistant Lesley Hargrave when Parsiana made enquiries.
Renowned strategic and operational leader in the field of digital and financial services, Kalifa is chair of Network International, the largest acquirer (financial institution that maintains a merchant’s account in order to accept credit cards) in the UAE and the leading enabler of digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. According to its website, network.ae, "In 2021, we processed $42+ billion in total, processed volumes for more than 150,000 merchants and processed over 979 million issuer transactions on 16+ million cards for over 200 financial institutions.”
He is also the chair of FutureLearn, "the number one ranked online learning platform in the UK, offering short-courses, microcredentials and fully online degrees to over 10 million learners worldwide, on behalf of over 150 high quality universities and leading organizations,” as notes its website futurelearn.com.
Serving his fourth year as non-executive director of the Bank of England, Kalifa is also non-executive director for Transport for London where he chairs the Finance Committee. During his 12 years as global chief executive officer of Worldpay he is known to have developed the business from a small start-up to an IPO (initial public offering) in London and then proceeding through its merger with US based companies, Vantiv and FIS.
Interim chair of the ECB, Martin Darlow was quoted on their website ecb.co.uk, "Ron has been a huge asset to the ECB board…using his significant expertise for the benefit of cricket… It is fantastic to see Ron’s achievements and hard work recognized with this honor.”
Life member of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, the community in the UK took pride in Kalifa’s recent recognition as they had in 2018 when he was felicitated on his appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He had then visited the Buckingham Palace with his wife Gillian, son Ryan, father Minoo, former company secretary of Tata Limited in the UK, and mother Nargis (see "Royal recognition,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, April 21, 2018).
Last year, the Kalifa Review of UK FinTech, commissioned by the British government at the 2020 budget and published in early 2021, had earned him considerable media coverage when he declared, "In order to remain a global leader in fintech (financial technology) the UK needs to strengthen its position on immigration or risk a significant shortage in human capital.”
"The appointment of Knight Bachelor (to men only) originates from the medieval period. Recipients have the title ‘Sir’ prefixed to their name. "The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor founded in 1908 acts as the registry for Knights Bachelor. The Society maintains the Chapel of Knights Bachelor in St Paul’s Cathedral where it holds its annual service of dedication and provides guidance and advice on protocol and in relation to the use of the designation,” notes the website
www.iskb.co.uk. From 1926, when it was authorized by King George V, Knights Bachelor sported a badge, 60 mm in length and 35 mm in width, on the left side of the coat or outer garment on appropriate occasions. In 1974 Queen Elizabeth II authorized the wearing of a neck badge, slightly smaller in size. On the oval, vermilion insignia are gilted a scroll, a cross-hilted sword, belted and sheathed, and two spurs.