PA chair and ex-BBC radio chief in New Year Honours

Press Association chairman Paul Potts, ex-DMGT chief executive Charles Sinclair and former BBC head of radio Jenny Abramsky have been recognised in the New Year Honours.

The list, published today, also features veteran Times cricket correspondent Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the former BBC correspondent and Cricketer magazine editor who left the paper in May this year.

Paul Potts, the PA executive chairman, has been made a CBE in recognition of his services to journalism – months after the news agency marked its 140th anniversary.

Potts (pictured above) began his journalism career at the Sheffield Star, moving to become lobby correspondent on the Yorkshire Post and News of the World political editor.

He joined the Daily Express in 1986 as political editor, was promoted to deputy editor two years later and joined PA in 1995, starting as editor-in-chief, then group chief executive and executive chairman.

“I would like to think this award is recognition of [PA’s] editorial mission and the central role that the Press Association plays in the media industry,” Potts said.

Jenny Abramsky, one of the BBC’s longest-serving executives, has been made a dame for her 39-year contribution to broadcasting. She left the BBC in September to chair the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

During her long career at the corporation, Abramsky edited Radio 4’s World At One, PM and Today programmes, launched rolling news channel News 24 and news and sport network Radio FiveLive before overseeing all of the BBC’s radio output in the role of director of audio and music.

Former Daily Mail and General Trust chief executive Charles Sinclair picks up a CBE for services to the newspaper industry.

Sinclair stood down in September after 21 years in the role, to be replaced by Martin Morgan, the former managing director of the group’s B2B division, DMG Information.

Christopher Martin-Jenkins will receive an MBE for services to sport. CMJ – as he was known – spent nine years covering cricket for the Times before handing over to former England capitain Mike Atherton in May.

The Observer’s senior economics commentator, William Keegan, has also been awarded an MBE, for services to financial journalism.