Cordwainer Councilman elected City's Policy Chairman
Mark Boleat, one of Cordwainer's three Common Councilmen, was elected Chairman of the City of London's Policy and Resources Committee on 3 May. Another Common Councilman, Sir Michael Snyder, held the position between 2003 and 2008. The press release issued by the City is reproduced below -
"The City of London Corporation has today (Thursday 3 May) elected Mark Boleat as the new Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee.
Mr Boleat, an elected member of the City’s Common Council since 2002, will lead the Committee in its development of policies to support the financial services industry in London and the UK, and to help the City provide first-class local authority services to the Square Mile’s residents, workers, businesses and visitors. Mr Boleat will also help steer the City’s work contributing to London as a whole and the UK through a wide range of other services and programmes.
Since May 2009, Mr Boleat served as Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee. He has represented the Ward of Cordwainer in the City of London since 2002.
Mr Boleat said: "The City remains a huge asset to London and the UK despite the turmoil it has faced following the financial crisis. If anything, recent events have magnified the importance of getting policy issues that affect financial services right in order to drive much needed jobs and growth both nationally and globally.
“It is important, therefore, that the City of London Corporation – as the Square Mile’s unique authority – continues to work together with business and policymakers to protect the cornerstones of our success: openness, stability, flexibility and access to world-class talent.
“Equally importantly the City of London Corporation will continue to work on behalf of Londoners to support our communities, heritage and green spaces. The world of finance does not – and never will – exist in a vacuum and that is why we must continue to strive to support all that London offers to the benefit of the nation as a whole.”
The outgoing Chairman, Stuart Fraser, held the role from 2008 and came to the City of London in 1963 as a trainee stockbroker. Over the course of his career moved through a succession of investment related disciplines, becoming a member of the London Stock Exchange in 1980. Stuart is currently a director of Brewin Dolphin Securities, the UK’s largest independent quoted stockbroker. He will take over as Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.
Mr Fraser added: “The past four years have been incredibly challenging – far more so than anybody could have foreseen when I took office in May 2008. The financial crisis gave a shock of seismic proportions to the international financial services industry. It also fundamentally challenged the City’s position in the economy and our standing in the community. We have come through this period changed for the better while remaining the leading global financial centre. I wish Mark every future success and thank all those who have helped steer the City through such troubled waters.”
Ends
Biographical note
Mark Boleat has been a Councillor in the City representing the Ward of Cordwainer since 2002. He was Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee from May 2009 to May 2012 and was Chairman of the Markets Committee from 2008 to 2011. In addition to the Policy and Resources Committee he is a member of the Police; Establishment; Finance; Markets; Investment; and Culture, Heritage and Libraries Committees. He represents the City on the boards of TheCityUK, Centre London Forward, London Councils and London and Partners.
Outside the City, Mark Boleat holds a portfolio of non-executive positions. He is Chairman of the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority, the States of Jersey Development Company, Claim Witness Solutions Ltd, the Association of Labour Providers and UK Social Data Services Ltd.
Among the previous positions he has held are Director General of the Building Societies Association (1986-93), the Council of Mortgage Lenders (1989-93) and the Association of British Insurers (1993-99); Secretary General of the International Housing Finance Union (1986-89); non-executive director of Countryside Properties, Comino, Travelers Insurance Company, Scottish Mutual, Scottish Provident and Abbey National Life; Chairman of Circle 33 Housing Trust, Hillingdon Community Trust and Green Corridor, and member of the Boards of the Housing Corporation, the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, the National Consumer Council and the Regulatory Policy Committee.
Mark was born in Jersey in 1949 and went to school in the Island. He has a BA in Economics following study at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University) and an MA in European Studies awarded by the University of Reading. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Mark has published a number of books on housing finance, regulation and trade associations and has done consultancy work on housing finance and regulation for international agencies and governmental bodies.
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in international finance and business services and provides local services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archive; education (including three independent schools and sponsor of three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and the City of London Corporation’s charity, the City Bridge Trust, makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects in London.