Jonathan Ive has guided Apple product design since 1992

He is widely seen as one of the key figures in Apple's resurrection.

Mr Ive started working for Apple in 1992 but exerted a big influence on its products only in 1997 when Steve Jobs returned to the company he co-founded.

Mr Ive's first design for Apple, the iMac, was hugely influential and has been followed by a series of other widely admired gadgets.

Apple said in a statement: "We are as proud as could be that Jony is receiving such a prestigous commendation."

The Queen's New Year Honours list is dominated by people who helped in the aftermath of the July 7 London bombings.

The list is also peppered with the usual crop of celebrities and sporting figures.

Gadget guru

A Londoner by birth, Mr Ive studied industrial design at Newcastle Polytechnic. After graduating, he set up his own design studio called Tangerine.

Ive was behind the distinctive look of the iMac

Since the launch of the iMac in 1998, Mr Ive has driven the design of almost every piece of Apple hardware. Landmarks include the original iMac, iBook, Power Mac, PowerBook, Mac Mini and iPod.

Although many drool over the sleek look of Apple products, Mr Ive has always emphasised the need for a close union of form and function.

Famously private and rarely giving interviews, Mr Ive always seeks to stress the teamwork that goes into creating Apple's products.

The portable iPod music player has done the most to boost Apple's fortunes and in September 2005 it reported its best financial quarter for nine years. Sales of iPods were up 500% on the year before.