8:30 AM -- Ben Verwaayen, CEO of BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA), has been made an honorary Knight of the British Empire (KBE) by the Queen "in recognition of his services to the communications industry," it was announced Wednesday.

Dutchman Verwaayen, who has been BT's head honcho since 2002, will receive his Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire gong early next year, though not from Elizabeth II -- he has to settle for a ceremony with a British politician.

Other non-Brits who have received a honorary KBEs include Bill Gates of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), George Bush Sr., and film director Steven Spielberg.

Now, that's what EuroBlog calls a "mixed bag."

— Ray Le Maistre, Knight Desk Editor, Light Reading