BBC reports that Apple's Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive, has been awarded a knighthood in the United Kingdom.
Mr Ive, who can now style himself Sir Jonathan, has been made a Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE).
Ive began work at Apple in 1992, but found himself frustated during the early years before Jobs' return. Ive is seen as responsible for many of the iconic designs coming out of Apple over the past decade. Jobs described Ive as his "spiritual partner" and had given him complete operational freedom at Apple.
Mercury News quotes a statement from Ive, reacting to the news.
"I am keenly aware that I benefit from a wonderful tradition in the UK of designing and making,'' Ive, 44, said in a statement. "To be recognized with this honour is absolutely thrilling and I am both humbled and sincerely grateful. I discovered at an early age that all I've ever wanted to do is design. I feel enormously fortunate that I continue to be able to design and make products with a truly remarkable group of people here at Apple."
Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
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Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014.
Q.ai has...
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Can someone explain why knighthood is important and what it is for the American readers?
Well Ive is British, and a Knighthood is one of the biggest honours our country can bestow upon someone, recognising excellence in their work, and their impact in the world. Its a pretty big deal to British people who receive an award like this. Plus you can replace Mr with Sir...
The relevance to international readers on this site is purely news relating to a senior and well known Apple employee.
The sheer volume of arrogance, ignorance, insolence, and morbidly uneducated comments in this thread are an embarrassment to those who make them and to Americans in general, and detract from those who have been genuine in their questions and comments.
The terminology of a Knighthood does not mean you are any more important or part of any special club with exclusive permissions over anyone else. It's simply an acknowledgment from your nation that you have contributed to the world and that Britain is proud of you, your achievements, and what you've contributed.
Anyone, and I mean anyone, who thinks that a Knighthood and any reference to the British "Empire" means that we Brits still believe we are, in fact, an Empire just shows up a complete lack of education and a massive degree of ignorance to the traditions of another nation. Every single Brit knows that the British Empire is no more, we were taught as much in Primary School in basic history, but giving Knighthoods to those from our nation of whom we are proud is not an indication of us trying to revive a dead Empire.
We're simply proud of a Brit doing well for himself on such a scale, contributing to the world via his designs and work, and recognising him as such with an honour.
BBC reports that Apple's Senior Vice President of Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive, has been awarded a knighthood in the United Kingdom.
