3 October 2011
New Lord Mayor elected for City of London
Alderman David Wootton was today elected as the 684th Lord Mayor
of the City of London, to serve from Friday 11 November (Lord
Mayor’s Show and fireworks Saturday 12 November).
Alderman Wootton, who served as Sheriff of the City 2009-2010,
was educated at Bradford Grammar School, and at Jesus College,
Cambridge, reading Classics and Law. He became a partner at
Allen & Overy in 1979, specialising in corporate transactions
and best-practice compliance with law and regulation in corporate
governance. This involved dealing with mergers and
acquisitions, IPOs and joint ventures across international
markets.
He was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn in 2005.
Alderman Wootton has been President of the City of London Law
Society and is Chairman of the City of London Branch of the
Institute of Directors and an Honorary Bencher of Grays Inn. He is
also a governor of several institutions, including the Guildhall
School of Music & Drama, King Edward's School Witley, and the
City of London Academy Southwark. He is also a Trustee and Chairman
of the Audit Committee of the King's Fund, Chairman of the Trustees
of the Charles Dickens Museum and music patron of St Paul's
Cathedral. He is married to Mrs Elizabeth Wootton and they have
four children.
Speaking after his election, Lord Mayor Elect Wootton said:
“The theme for my year in office is ensuring that the City and
its institutions are Fit for the Future. The Square Mile is
part of the UK domestic community and we need to show that it
is. It is easy to regard the City as solely about financial
services and only looking outside the UK but this is far from the
case. In addition to creating huge economic value both
domestically and across Europe, it makes a major contribution to a
wide range of activities from education, opportunities, training
and skills to charity work."
“Having been raised in Yorkshire, I know that the City does care
about manufacturing and other industries across the rest of the
country. We need to communicate this better and ‘join the
dots’ between domestic and international issues, and between the
City of London and the wider UK economy."
“A balance needs to be struck between securing financial
stability and economic growth. The City’s standing as a
world-leading financial hub is a major asset to both the UK and
Europe and it is something we must work to maintain and enhance,
particularly in light of the uncertainty afflicting the global
economy at present.”
Alderman Wootton is a keen supporter of the Livery movement, and is
a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers and of the
Worshipful Company of Solicitors, a Court Assistant of the
Information Technologists and the Glaziers, a Liveryman of the
Clockmakers, the Bowyers and the Woolmen, an Honorary Liveryman of
the Security Professionals, and a Freeman of the Watermen and
Lightermen. He is a Past Chairman of the Langbourn Ward Club,
Honorary Vice President of the City Livery Club, serves on the
Court of the Guild of Freemen and the Council of the Royal Society
of St George (City of London Branch) and is a member of the United
Wards Club. He is President of the Society of Young
Freemen. He has been a board member of the City of London
Festival since 2004 and as Lord Mayor will be Honorary
President.
Typically a Lord Mayor will spend three months a year leading
City business delegations overseas – and also meeting leading
overseas politicians and business leaders visiting London’s
financial community. Lord Mayor Elect Wootton’s charitable appeal
will be ‘Fit for the Future’, which aims to benefit ordinary people
who are ill or suffer injury and need top-class and immediate
medical attention – or who need open spaces and open-air sporting
facilities to take more exercise and enjoy more healthy lives. The
five charities involved are: Barts and The London Charity, Fields
in Trust, Futures for Kids, London Youth Rowing and The Rowing
Foundation.
The Lord Mayor Elect, as he is known after today’s election,
does not take office until the Silent Ceremony, which is held in
Great Hall, Guildhall on Friday 11 November at 3pm, the day
preceding the Lord Mayor's Show (Saturday 12 November). The Lord
Mayor's Banquet, at which the Prime Minister speaks, follows on
Monday 14 November at Guildhall.
Ends
Notes for editors
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse
organisation. It supports and promotes the City as a world
leader in international finance and business services and provides
local services and policing for those working in, living in and
visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to
London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and
the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library
and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archive; a range of
education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames
bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the
Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open
spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three
wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health
Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.
It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the
regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which
it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.
Press enquiries
Sanjay Odedra, Media Officer, City of London Corporation
Tel 020 7332 1835 / Mobile 07831 542856
Email sanjay.odedra@cityoflondon.gov.uk