William Russell (Lord Mayor)
Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1965 |
| Occupation(s) | Financial professional, Lord Mayor of London |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London (2019–2021) |
Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell (born 15 April 1965) is a British financial professional who held the office of the 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London from 2019 until 2021.
Biography
Russell received his education at Eton College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Durham University. His career in financial services commenced in 1987 at First Boston, followed by a move to Merrill Lynch in 1992. Throughout his tenure, he gained international experience working in Hong Kong, New York, and London before transitioning to public service in 2006.
He fulfilled the role of Sheriff of the City of London during 2016/17. On 1 October 2019, he was elected Lord Mayor and officially assumed the position on 9 November 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic's disruption led to his re-election on 29 September 2020, allowing him to serve an unprecedented second consecutive term through 2021—the first such occurrence since William Cubitt's tenure in 1861. Notably, he is the fifth individual from his family to occupy this role.
Since 2013, Russell has represented Bread Street Ward as an Alderman within the City of London Corporation. He is slated to serve as Master of the Haberdashers' Company for the year 2024/25 and holds Liveryman status with both the Feltmakers' Company and as an Honorary Liveryman of the Paviors' Company.
In recognition of his contributions to financial innovation, cultural initiatives, and wellbeing efforts in the City during the COVID-19 crisis, he was honored with a knighthood in the 2022 New Year Honours. Additionally, Russell serves on the Advisory Board of Innovate Finance, where he supports the international FinTech sector.
From 2024 onward, he has taken on the role of Chair of the Barbican Centre Board, having previously been Deputy Chairman between 2022 and 2024.
Family
He is the sole son of Anthony Russell, a professional stockbroker. He stands in remainder to the family baronetcy established for his great-great-uncle, Charles Russell, founder of the namesake law firm.
His mother, Charlotte née Bowater, descends from a Kent-based family involved in paper packaging. Her father, Sir Ian Bowater GBE, served as Lord Mayor of London in 1969/70, while his grandfather Sir Frank Bowater held that office in 1938/39. Russell marks the fifth member of this lineage to be elected Lord Mayor.
British actor Damian Lewis CBE is his maternal half-brother.
Sir William married Hilary Chaplin in 1989; they have four children together.
Honours
- 2022: Awarded Knight Bachelor
- 2019: Appointed Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John
See also
Additional reading
- 1965 births
- Living people
- English people of Northern Ireland descent
- People educated at Eton College
- Alumni of Grey College, Durham
- English investment bankers
- Merrill (company) people
- Councilmen and Aldermen of the City of London
- 21st-century lord mayors of London
- Sheriffs of the City of London
- Knights of Justice of the Order of St John
- Knights Bachelor