Richard Quallington, from Worcester, received the title for services to rural communities.
Mr Quallington was the executive director of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) between 2015 and 2024.
Mr Quallington was researching rural poverty which set him on his career path.
He said: “It was that experience that made me want to do something about it.”
Before his role as executive director at ACRE, Mr Quallington was chief executive of Community First in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the ACRE organisation covering the two counties.
Mr Quallington explained how it felt to find out he had received the award: “It came as a complete surprise to me.
“I feel very humbled to have been nominated for such an honour.
“Whatever it is that my peers thought worthy of recognition, I know that I could have done none of it without the dedicated team at ACRE and my colleagues across the ACRE Network.
“It is their understated work that does so much to support rural communities on the ground and I share this recognition with each of them.”
Several other residents of Worcestershire were named in the New Year Honours List, including chief executive of Herefordshire Care Homes Group Karen Rogers and Worcester Wolves founder Mick Donovan who both received MBEs for services to social care and inclusion in sport respectively.
Jonathon Pryce, chief fire officer for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, received the King’s Fire Service Medal for his distinguished career.
After leaving his position at ACRE in the summer, Mr Quallington has become the chair of YSS, a charity dedicated to helping children and adults through significant life changes.
However, he is also making the most of the extra time in the day he now has: “I am spending more time walking and riding on my motorbike.”