BBC NEWS
Friday, 15 June, 2001, 23:03 GMT 00:03 UK
Gent heads business honours
Both men have led calls for Britain to join the single European currency.
Mr Gent, 53, is responsible for building Vodafone almost from scratch into the world's biggest mobile phone operator.
He succeeded in clinching a record-breaking hostile takeover deal last year of Germany's Mannesman, earning himself a bonus of £10m.
A long-time friend of Britain's former Prime Minister John Major, he distanced himself from Tory policy at the recent general election.
'Delighted'
Mr Gent said he was "honoured and delighted" by the knighthood, adding: "Not only on a personal and family basis, but also for all the Vodafone staff whose achievements have made my recognition possible."
Mr Scheele, 57, has also urged Prime Minister Tony Blair to take a lead in the debate over Britain's membership of the single currency.
In the run-up to the general election, he was among a group of business leaders, including Mr Gent, to sign a letter to The Times backing euro entry.
Within hours of Mr Blair's landslide re-election, he said British business was losing out while the country remains outside the euro.
Welsh billionaire
Peter Job, outgoing chief executive of global news and information provider Reuters, has also won a knighthood.
Mr Job, 59, will retire next month after 10 years in charge. He will be succeeded by American Tom Glocer.
Brian Williamson, chairman of the UK derivatives exchange LIFFE, was another figure to win a knighthood.
A knighthood also goes to Terry Matthews, who has been described as Wales's first and only billionaire.
He recently became the largest single shareholder of the French telecoms equipment maker, Alcatel.
Services to education
Peter Vardy, chairman of national car dealership chain Reg Vardy, also receives a knighthood for services to education in his native North-East.
Mr Vardy, a committed Christian, has been at the forefront of business involvement in education and has sponsored a number of new schools and colleges in the area.
Advertising boss Frank Lowe, founder of the global Lowe Lintas agency network, has also been rewarded with a knighthood.
While former racing driver Jackie Stewart, who last year sold his Formula One team to Ford, also becomes a Sir.
And there is a knighthood for former BBC managing director Bill Cotton, now chairman of ITV franchise Meridian Broadcasting, "for services to TV broadcasting and to Marie Curie Cancer Care".
Other business knighthoods go to Donald Curry, chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission, and Robert Ogden, chairman of civil engineering firm Ogden, for charitable work in Yorkshire.
Other honours
Peter Ellwood, group chief executive of banking group Lloyds TSB, receives an OBE.
Head of the Consumer's Association, Sheila McKechnie, has been made a dame.
Recently retired head of National Grid, David Jones, receives a CBE.
And a CBE goes to David Ross, chief executive of pension provider Scottish Widows.
Bill Cotton, who was formerly the director of BBC One, has died in hospital at the age of 80. In 1998, he won the "Academy Fellowship" BAFTA award.  Cotton died in a Bournemouth hospital.

He was first the producer of a TV show 1956, when he produced the ''Billy Cotton Band Show''. He went on to produce ''Six-Five Special'' in 1957 and many more shows at various points in his life.

His first TV show after ''Six-Five Special'' was ''Play Your Hunch'', which was produced in 1961. This was followed by ''The Dave Allen Show'', then ''Call up the Stars''.

Cotton was the director of light entertainment for the BBC between 1970 and 1977. He became the Managing Director of television for BBC, prior to his retirement in 1987. He became a member of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. 

In addition to producing many films, he was due to star in the 2009 drama ''Gangster Kittens''. Filming for ''Gangster Kittens'' has completed, so the drama will still be able to be broadcast.