William Russell (Lord Mayor)
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15 April 1965
William Russell | |
|---|---|
 Lord Mayor Russell in 2021 | |
| 692nd Lord Mayor of London | |
| In office 9 November 2019 – 13 November 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Peter Estlin |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Keaveny |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Anthony Bowater Russell 15 April 1965 London, United Kingdom |
| Spouse |
Hilary Chaplin (m. 1989) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Occupation | Investment banker |
Sir William Anthony Bowater Russell (born 15 April 1965) is a British financier who served as the 692nd Lord Mayor of the City of London from 2019 to 2021.[1]
Educated at Eton and Durham University, graduating B.A., Russell started his career in financial services at First Boston in 1987, and joined Merrill Lynch in 1992,[2] working in Hong Kong, New York and London, before leaving in 2006 for public service.[3][4]
Sheriff of the City of London for 2016/17, Russell was then elected Lord Mayor on 1 October 2019, taking office on 9 November 2019.[5][6] In view of the global disruption to public life brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Russell was re-elected, on 29 September 2020, as Lord Mayor of London to serve a second term for 2021,[7] the first Lord Mayor to serve more than one term since William Cubitt MP, who was re-elected in 1861.[8] He is the fifth member of his family to have held this position.[9]
Russell represents Bread Street Ward as Alderman on the City of London Corporation since 2013.[10]
He serves as Master of the Haberdashers' Company for 2024/25,[11] and is a Liveryman of the Feltmakers' as well as an Honorary Liveryman of the Paviors' Companies.[12]
Russell was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to "financial innovation, culture and wellbeing in the City of London, particularly during COVID-19".[13]
A keen cricketer, he is also a member of MCC,[14] and remains an Advisory Board member of Innovate Finance, an independent not-for-profit membership organisation serving the global FinTech community.[15]
Sir William serves as Chairman of the Barbican Centre Board since 2024 (Deputy Chairman, 2022–24).[16]
Family
The only son of Anthony Russell (1934–1966), a stockbroker, he is in remainder to the family baronetcy,[17] created for his great-great-uncle, Charles Russell, founder of the eponymous law firm.[18]
His mother, Charlotte née Bowater (1937–2001), was from a Kentish family of paper packagers;[19] she was the younger daughter and heiress in her issue of Sir Ian Bowater GBE, who served as Lord Mayor of London for 1969/70, and a granddaughter of Sir Frank Bowater, Lord Mayor for 1938/39.[5] Russell is the fifth member of his family elected as Lord Mayor of London.[9]
British actor Damian Lewis CBE[20] is his maternal half-brother.[21]
Married in 1989 to Hilary Chaplin, Sir William and Lady Russell have four children.[22]
Honours
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Arms
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