Election of Sheriffs

"My Lord Mayor Fellow Liverymen,

"It is an honour and a privilege to have received your support in electing me to the office of Sheriff of The City of London. Precedent encourages me to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my values but I feel they will be more relevant if I set them in context.

This is a role within a civic government and community built upon two enduring pillars tradition and trust and in these I believe that we can find both reassurance and inspiration. We are defined by our past but our future impact will rest on how well we are trusted. It is nine years since two decades of corporate greed and excess came crashing down around us.

This has brought a legacy of mistrust and apprehension about The City with society asking what constitutes "good" capitalism ? I grew up in Dorset by the sea embracing family tradition by sailing with my father. I placed my trust in him to keep us afloat. These days I live in Maritime Greenwich with my Labrador dogs Benjy and Brandon who trust me to come home with their dinner!

Between walks and feeds I have worked in two international legal practices and in one of the world's pre-eminent investment banks. And so I have gained a little perspective both inside and outside this Square Mile witnessing how these different worlds interconnect and overlap and perhaps an understanding as to why and how we can work for the betterment of them all.

My Fellow Liverymen, we have arrived in a new age, the digital age, the post truth age:- Taxi companies with no cars. Social media giants with no morals.

Corporations without commodities. An age increasingly defined in messages of fewer than 140 characters in which the old distinctions between Left and Right have been replaced by that between the Haves and Have Nots, the young and the old and those with and without higher education.

A bridge is required to ensure that integrity and trust can travel from our ancient City to this new world for those qualities are the bedrock of our civic government and community. This year I will support the Lord Mayor, host Her Majesty's Judges at the Old Bailey and reinforce old friendships.

But I am equally conscious that we need to foster new relationships for a new age, to establish new connections , to remain relevant, to re-establish a sense of trust in the role of The City, to show that although head count matters… Hearts count even more. Before I conclude, two final thank you's. Firstly to my fellow Sheriff Elect and Emma who I look forward to working with over the year ahead.

And secondly to my wingman, Fiona Adler, full of energy, enthusiasm and experience. And now it is with gratitude that I accept election to the office of Sheriff and confirm my willingness to serve.

I am conscious of the trust you have placed in me and I will endeavour to serve the City to the very best of my ability.

"My Lord Mayor"