Alderman Alastair King said it was an immense honour to be installed as Rector and he looked forward to representing City St George’s both in the UK and abroad
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Alastair King was installed as the new Rector of City St George’s, University of London at a winter graduation ceremony held at the Barbican.
On Monday 27 January, Alderman King, who was elected as the 696th Lord Mayor of the City of London in September 2024, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his contribution to the City of London.
At the School of Health and Psychological Sciences graduation ceremony, he accepted his honorary doctorate and officially became the first Rector since City and St George’s merged.
Speaking to graduates and their families as well as faculty and key London business figures, the Lord Mayor spoke of his pride at becoming Rector of City St George’s. He said:
The Lord Mayor acts as an international spokesperson for the City of London, leading business delegations overseas to key international markets on behalf of the UK’s financial and professional services industry.
In the role, Alderman King will meet government representatives from around the world, alongside business leaders and policy makers internationally.
He will work to strengthen global economic ties with the UK, identify new business opportunities and promote the UK as a top global destination for foreign investment.
On his time as Rector and Lord Mayor, Alderman King told graduates at the ceremony that he will champion City St George’s, including its students and alumni, both in the UK and abroad.
A nod to the university’s historical links to the City of London, the installation of the elected Lord Mayor as Rector has been an important moment in the academic calendar since legacy City, University of London secured the Royal Charter in 1966.
Alderman King has served as Sheriff of the City of London and as a Liveryman of eleven City Livery Companies. He studied Law and Finance and practiced as a solicitor before holding senior positions at SPARK Ventures – a pioneering technology venture capital company in London.
He was also a Managing Director at Galahad Capital Plc and later founded and became Chairman of asset management company Naisbitt King Asset Management Limited.
As Lord Mayor, Alastair is promoting his theme of Growth Unleashed, promoting a revitalised, resilient, and risk-ready City. His theme will focus on challenging industry to maximise opportunities through responsible risk taking, driving the adoption of technologies, and celebrating the accomplishments of the many diverse communities across the UK.
Recently, research was undertaken by academics from Bayes Business School with support from the Lord Mayor as part of the Growth Unleashed agenda.
The research led to a report revealing that chief risk officers in UK financial services firms are evolving from compliance-focused enforcers to key strategic partners in the boardroom. Read more about the report.
Addressing the audience at the Barbican, Alderman King said:
On the installation, Dr Sionade Robinson, Vice-President (Enterprise, Engagement & Employability), said:
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