Alderman Wootton, who served as Sheriff of the City 2009-2010, was educated at Bradford Grammar School, and at Jesus College, Cambridge, reading Classics and Law. He became a partner at Allen & Overy in 1979, specialising in corporate transactions and best-practice compliance with law and regulation in corporate governance. This involved dealing with mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and joint ventures across international markets.

He was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn in 2005. Alderman Wootton has been President of the City of London Law Society and is Chairman of the City of London Branch of the Institute of Directors and an Honorary Bencher of Grays Inn. He is also a governor of several institutions, including the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, King Edward’s School Witley, and the City of London Academy Southwark. He is also a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the King’s Fund, Chairman of the Trustees of the Charles Dickens Museum and music patron of St Paul’s Cathedral. He is married to Mrs Elizabeth Wootton and they have four children.

Speaking after his election, Lord Mayor Elect Wootton said:

“The theme for my year in office is ensuring that the City and its institutions are Fit for the Future. The Square Mile is part of the UK domestic community and we need to show that it is. It is easy to regard the City as solely about financial services and only looking outside the UK but this is far from the case. In addition to creating huge economic value both domestically and across Europe, it makes a major contribution to a wide range of activities from education, opportunities, training and skills to charity work.”

“Having been raised in Yorkshire, I know that the City does care about manufacturing and other industries across the rest of the country. We need to communicate this better and ‘join the dots’ between domestic and international issues, and between the City of London and the wider UK economy.”

“A balance needs to be struck between securing financial stability and economic growth. The City’s standing as a world-leading financial hub is a major asset to both the UK and Europe and it is something we must work to maintain and enhance, particularly in light of the uncertainty afflicting the global economy at present.”

Alderman Wootton is a keen supporter of the Livery movement, and is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers and of the Worshipful Company of Solicitors, a Court Assistant of the Information Technologists and the Glaziers, a Liveryman of the Clockmakers, the Bowyers and the Woolmen, an Honorary Liveryman of the Security Professionals, and a Freeman of the Watermen and Lightermen. He is a Past Chairman of the Langbourn Ward Club, Honorary Vice President of the City Livery Club, serves on the Court of the Guild of Freemen and the Council of the Royal Society of St George (City of London Branch) and is a member of the United Wards Club. He is President of the Society of Young Freemen.

Typically a Lord Mayor will spend three months a year leading City business delegations overseas – and also meeting leading overseas politicians and business leaders visiting London’s financial community. Lord Mayor Elect Wootton’s charitable appeal will be ‘Fit for the Future’, which aims to benefit ordinary people who are ill or suffer injury and need top-class and immediate medical attention – or who need open spaces and open-air sporting facilities to take more exercise and enjoy more healthy lives. The five charities involved are: Barts and The London Charity, Fields in Trust, Futures for Kids, London Youth Rowing and The Rowing Foundation.

The Lord Mayor Elect, as he is known after today’s election, does not take office until the Silent Ceremony, which is held in Great Hall, Guildhall on Friday 11 November at 3pm, the day preceding the Lord Mayor’s Show (Saturday 12 November). The Lord Mayor’s Banquet, at which the Prime Minister speaks, follows on Monday 14 November at Guildhall.