Honorary Graduates 2012

Lionel Barber

In recognition of his contribution to the field of journalism, City University London has given an Award of Doctor of Science Honoris Causa to Lionel Barber.

Lionel Barber is the editor of the Financial Times, appointed in November 2005. Previously, he was the newspaper's US managing editor, based in New York, responsible for the US edition and all US news on FT.com.

Joining the FT in 1985, he was the editor of the continental European edition between 2000 and 2002 and from 1998 until 2000 he was the news editor. He has also been the Brussels bureau chief.

In February, 2011 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Tate. He is also an Advisory Board member of the International Centre for Journalists.

Ronald Sandler CBE

City University London has given an Award of Doctor of Science Honoris Causa to Ronald Sandler CBE, in recognition of his contribution to the financial services.

Ron Sandler was appointed Executive Chairman of Northern Rock plc when the bank was taken into public ownership in early 2008. He is also Chairman of Phoenix Group and Ironshore Inc. and a member of the advisory board of Palamon Capital Partners.

Ron has an MA from Queens' College, Cambridge and an MBA from Stanford University. His early career was spent with The Boston Consulting Group, in London and California. In 1993, he became Chief Executive of Exco plc and led the flotation of this company the following year. He was appointed Chief Executive of Lloyd's of London in 1995 and played a key role in the Lloyd's reconstruction and renewal programme. Subsequently, he was Chief Operating Officer of NatWest Group, until the takeover of NatWest by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

He has chaired various public and private sector boards and is a recent past President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. In 2001/02, at the request of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he led the Sandler Review of the UK Long Term Savings Industry.

Lord Currie of Marylebone

Lord Currie of Marylebone has been given an Award of Doctor of Science Honoris Causa by City University London, in recognition of the distinction achieved in international economic policy and the leadership demonstrated as founding Chairman of Ofcom.

Lord Currie is Chairman of the International Centre for Financial Regulation, Semperian PPP Investment Partners Holdings Ltd and Chairman of the University of Essex Council and the Alacrity Foundation. He is a Board member of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the Royal Mail, BDO, IG Group and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Formerly founding Chairman of Ofcom, the UK communications regulator (2002-2009), Dean of Cass Business School (formerly City University Business School) and Professor of Business Economics (2001-2007). He was also Professor of Economics at London Business School (1988-2000) and Deputy Dean (1992-1995, 1999-2000); Director of the Centre of Economic Forecasting (1988-95) and Director of the Regulation Initiative (1995-2000) at London Business School. He was Lecturer, Reader then Professor of Economics at Queen Mary, University of London (1972-1988) and economist with Hoare Govett (1971-1972).

He was also non-executive Chairman of Independent Audit (2003-2007) and a non-executive director of the Abbey National (2000-2002), and has also served on a variety of UK government bodies including the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (Ofgem, the UK energy regulator) and the Treasury's Panel of Independent Forecasters (the so-called "Wise Men"), advising two Conservative Chancellors.

David Currie has experience across an unusually broad range, having worked in business and finance, government and academia. He has led very major organisational change: first as part of the senior leadership team at London Business School (1988-2000); then as Dean at Cass Business School (2001-2007); most significantly as the founding Chairman of Ofcom, merging five separate communication regulators into what is generally regarded as a high performance organisation; and most recently at Semperian PPP Investment Partners (2008-present), which completed a deal at the start of 2009 with Land Securities and Telereal transforming the former Trillium Investment Partners, one of the UK's largest PFI/PPP investment funds, into an integrated PFI/PPP business. He also has experience of start-ups, being the founding Chairman of Independent Audit (2003-2007) as well as Ofcom. He sits on the cross benches in the House of Lords as Lord Currie of Marylebone.

The Rt Hon. The Lord Mayor Alderman David Wootton

In recognition of his services to the City of London, Alderman David Wootton has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa.

Alderman David Wootton took office as the 684th Lord Mayor of the City of London on Friday 11th November 2011.

Alderman Wootton was educated at Bradford Grammar School and at Jesus College, Cambridge, reading Classics and Law. He joined Allen & Overy LLP in 1979, working in corporate transactions - mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, joint ventures - many of them international and of the largest size; he advises on best practice compliance with law and regulation in corporate governance. He is a committee member of the City of London Law Society and Chairman of the City of London Branch of the Institute of Directors.

Alderman Wootton was elected as Common Councilman for the Ward of Farringdon Within in 2002 and as Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn in 2005. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee of the City of London Corporation from 2003-2006. He is a keen supporter of the Livery movement and is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers; he is Senior Warden of the Worshipful Company of Solicitors, a Court Assistant of the Information Technologists and the Glaziers, a Liveryman of the Clockmakers and of the Bowyers. He is Vice Chairman of the Langbourn Ward Club and a member of the Guild of Freemen, the Royal Society of St George (City of London Branch) and the United Wards Club. He is President of the Society of Young Freemen. 

David Wootton's charitable portfolio of voluntary work reflects his interest in education. He is a Governor of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he has been an Almoner of Christ's Hospital and is currently a Governor of King Edward's School, Witley and the City of London Academy in Southwark. He is a Trustee of the St Paul's Cathedral School Foundation and of the Lord Mayor's 800th Anniversary Trust. He is a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the King's Fund, he is Chairman of the Trustees of the Charles Dickens Museum and he is a member of the oversight committee of the Royal College of Surgeons. He sits as a City magistrate.

David Wootton is married to Liz, a teacher who is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Masons and a member of the Guild of Educators. They have two sons, two daughters and two grandchildren. His outside interests include rowing and music.