William Russell will serve an additional year as Lord Mayor after being extended in office in a Covid-secure election.
The Lord Mayor was initially due to step down in November 2020 after completing a one-year term, following the scheduled election of his successor this September.
He will now remain in office until November 2021 to ensure continuity of leadership during the current pandemic. The last time a Lord Mayor served a second year in office was in 1861 with the re-election of William Cubitt.
The Lord Mayor acts as a global ambassador for the City, leading business delegations overseas to key international markets on behalf of the UK’s financial and professional services industry.
He has also been strengthening ties with other cities across the country as part of the City of London Corporation’s UK strategy, which aims to increase inward investment and build awareness of how London can act as a global gateway for local firms to export their products and services.
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Lord Mayor Russell has been continuing his domestic and international business engagement virtually during the current UK lockdown.
The role involves meeting government representatives from around the world, alongside business leaders and policy makers both at home and abroad. Over the next twelve months, the Lord Mayor will continue to champion his mayoral theme, Global UK – The New Future, focusing on growing global trade, strengthening innovation and promoting a rich and vibrant cultural and creative economy.
Mr Russell said: “I am deeply honoured to serve another year as Lord Mayor. These are testing times for the City, London and the UK but we will get through this pandemic by working together to drive the recovery forward.
“We will work with the government to enable a safe, secure and flexible return to the workplace as soon as possible so that we can return to a vibrant and thriving Square Mile.
“The fundamental strengths of London will help us to recover and rebuild, as we have done before.”
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