28 September 2010The twonew Sheriffs of London took office today (Tuesday28 September), following their election at the Guildhall in Junethis year. Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE and Richard Sermon MBE will preside at theElection of the Lord Mayor on Wednesday (29 September), aftertaking over today from Alderman David Wootton and Peter JCook. Alderman Fiona Woolf was elected Alderman for the Ward ofCandlewick in 2007. After training as a solicitor, she worked inthe corporate and banking fields at Clifford Chance for five years,before moving to CMS Cameron McKenna. She ran its banking andproject finance practice in Bahrain for three years and negotiatedthe Treaty and the Concession Agreement for the Channel Tunnel,before playing key roles in the water and electricityprivatisations, and building an innovative energy and majorprojects practice. Her career has taken her to 40 jurisdictions, advising governmentsand agencies such as the World Bank, on attracting investment ininfrastructure and energy reforms. Among other roles, she is aMember of the Competition Commission and a non-executive directorof Veolia Water Central. She was awarded a senior fellowshipat Harvard University in 2001/2 and was President of the LawSociety in 2006/7. See more detailshere. A Chartered Secretary, Mr Richard Sermon began his career withCrest Hotels and in 1979 co-founded Shandwick Consultants, a Citybased financial public relations business, later becoming ChiefExecutive of Shandwick International. In 1996 he formed his ownconsultancy practice, Gryphon Corporate Counsel and has particularexpertise in the fields of financial communications, corporategovernance and the promotion of inward investment and internationaltrade. He has managed businesses in the UK and Europe and workedwith clients across the world.

Mr Sermon has served as an executive and non-executive directorof both listed and private companies and is currently anon-executive member of the Management Board of the UK DefenceAcademy and a Visiting Professor in Corporate Governance at CassBusiness School. Among other roles, he is Chairman of the HomeImprovement Trust and also a Vice President of Providence Row,served as Chairman of London Youth and is a governor of the City ofLondon School for Girls, and a Board Member of the London Chamberof Commerce and Industry (LCCI). See more detailshere.

While the office of Sheriff dates back to the 7th century and isof long-standing importance in the government of the City ofLondon, its holders also take an increasing role in supporting theLord Mayor and the City of London in promoting and sustaining theSquare Mile and the wider UK-based financial and related businesssector, for example in meeting senior business and politicalleaders from overseas. Sheriff Woolf and Sheriff Sermon"s dutiesinclude carrying out official and ceremonial duties, attending thesessions at the Central Criminal Court in the Old Bailey andpresenting petitions from the City to Parliament at the Bar of theHouse of Commons. One of the conditions to be a candidate for LordMayor is to have served as Sheriff.