Mayor for the Modern Era Unveiled Today

Dame Susan Langley is on course to achieve a significant feat in her year as the first citizen of the City of London, usually known as the Lord Mayor.

A New Title

Her decision to adopt the title Lady Mayor has made a huge impact, raising the eyes of traditionalists, but it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

When she was elected to the Court of Aldermen in 2018, she quickly realized she wasn’t happy with a gender-specific title.

“I was the first to take the title Alderwoman. I wasn’t trying to make a point but what triggered it was when someone said ‘Alderman Langley’ everyone shook my husband’s hand. I got fed up with that.

Changing that was hard. There were papers written about whether it could be done but the nice thing is now that it is done all of the women who come after her have a choice.”

The Modern Mayoralty

Now that the title change is done, Dame Susan has christened her year in office as the start of the ‘Modern Mayoralty,’ and plenty is happening to embed that in the way the office operates now and in the future.

Traditionally, Lord Mayors have set a theme for their year in office, many very worthy but rarely enjoying a life beyond that Mayor’s year.

Working with the City authorities, Dame Susan has already moved the dial on that front. Unusually, the powers that be have been willing to be clearer on who will succeed Dame Susan, with Timothy Hailes, a lawyer, lined up for 2026–27, and Bronek Masojada, former CEO of Hiscox Insurance, succeeding him.

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This change has been backed by the creation of an Advisory Board that will ‘fill in gaps in the Mayor’s skillset’ and ‘ensure all three of them operate within set tramlines to give more consistency and impact.’ It is being chaired by former UK Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwell, who has a clear brief to deliver continuity.

Focus on Impact

Dame Susan is focused on getting the message across to the wider world that the City of London is a place to do business, as well as ensuring the UK government focuses on policies that help the City thrive.

Pushing for speedier delivery of the promised captive insurance regime for the City has been at the top of her agenda.

“Our partnerships are thriving and that is something to celebrate and build upon.”

“This is an age defined by volatility, by insecurity, competition and, at times, fragmentation. But despair is not an option. Because, when the world feels most fragile, that is precisely when togetherness matters most. None of us can work through challenges alone. Not one nation, not one economy, not one system, the future won’t be built in isolation. It will be built through greener partnerships grounded in shared values, interest and objectives.

“So, as this storm rages on, they must strengthen these connections and the UK – and the City – must play its part.”

A Change in Perception

For those messages to land, however, Dame Susan says there needs to be a significant change in perception of what the Lord or Lady Mayor does.

For her, the day-to-day reality of the role is very clear: “It is probably 10 percent ceremonial, 20 percent philanthropic and then 70 percent business.”

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But this is not how the world traditionally sees the role. The Lord/Lady Mayor is the first citizen of the City of London and heads up the City of London Corporation, which is the local authority for what is known as the Square Mile.

Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over everyone except the King.

She has changed the signs on her office to say ‘Ambassador for Financial and Professional Services’ and one of the signs that greets visitors as they enter the splendour of Mansion House now says ‘Embassy for Financial and Professional Services.’

Changing signs is easy: changing perceptions is much harder, but the message is getting through.

On a recent trip to Texas, Dame Susan asked if they would like her to explain what the Lady Mayor’s role is but her host turned round and said: “That’s OK we know you are the Ambassador for Financial and Professional Services in the City of London.”

Dame Susan believes in London, having been born and brought up in London’s East End.

She remembers watching the Lord Mayor’s Show on her father’s shoulders, never imagining she would one day be leading that historic parade.

Perhaps like another outsider – Dick Whittington – who famously held this office three times from 1397, Dame Susan will have left a mark on the City that will be her legacy for years to come.