Roger Gifford

Alderman Sir Roger Gifford
Gifford at Chatham House in 2013
Personal details
Born	Michael Roger Gifford (1955-08-03) 3 August 1955 St Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Jane Lunzer (1983–2004); Clare Taylor, now Lady Gifford
Children	Olivia (1985) Fergus (1986) Fred (1988) Augusta (1989–1992) Hector (1994)
Residence	London
Alma mater	Trinity College, Oxford
Occupation	Merchant banker
Religion	Christian (Anglican)

Sir Roger Gifford (born 3 August 1955) is a London banker and was the 685th Lord Mayor of London (2012 to 2013). He has been head of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) in the United Kingdom since 2000 and is also a Patron of the financial and enterprise education charity MyBnk.^[1]

Early life

Gifford was born at St Andrews, Scotland to Douglas Gifford (of Argentinian and Lowland Scots descent). He was educated at Sedbergh^[2] before going up to Trinity College, Oxford, graduating with an MA degree.

Career

Gifford started his career in finance with SG Warburg (1978–82), working in international banking and capital markets. In 1982 he left to join a new merchant bank, Enskilda Securities, Skandinaviska Enskilda Bank and, from 1994 to 2000, he headed the bank's operations in Japan. Since 2000 he has been SEB's UK country manager.

Gifford is a former chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce (UK) and of the Association of Foreign Banks (UK). He is a trustee of St Paul's Cathedral Foundation, St Paul's Cathedral Choir School Foundation and King Edward's School Witley; chair of the City Music Foundation,^[3] the English Chamber Orchestra charity and the Tenebrae Choir among other arts involvements. He is a liveryman of the Worshipful Companies of Musicians, Cordwainers and Security Professionals. He served as Master of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (2010–11) and is sponsoring Alderman for the Guild of Public Relations Practitioners.

Sir Roger joined the Bank Workers Charity Trustee Board in 2011. Following his tenure as Lord Mayor of London, Sir Roger was appointed President of the charity on 1 March 2014. He believes there is a continuing need to support the banking industry's employees and to enhance the ethics and culture this sector must embrace.

Politics

Gifford was elected Alderman for the City of London Ward of Cordwainer in 2004 and is a member of the City of London Corporation Policy and Resources Committee. He served as Sheriff of the City of London from 2008 to 2009.

In October 2012, he was elected Lord Mayor of London and took office on 9 November.^[4] Speaking after his election, Gifford said: "Next month will mark exactly 30 years since I joined SEB and 35 years since I first started working in the City. During this time, London's Square Mile has become a truly global centre – however, the focus of my year in office will be to underline that service is, and must be, at the heart of the financial services industry of the UK. In other words that the City must serve society – and be seen to do so."^[5]

Gifford's Lord Mayoral charitable appeal, under the banner "The City in Society", was focused on the City of London as a global centre for philanthropy and the arts.

Personal life

Gifford, a Freemason,^[6] lives in London with his second wife, Dr Clare Taylor,^[7][8] and lists his recreations as chamber music, singing, opera, gardening and forestry.

Honours

In 2013, as Chancellor ex officio, Gifford received an Hon DSc from City University and was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours for "services to international business, culture, and the City of London":^[9]

• 2014: Knight Bachelor^[10]
• 2012: Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John
• 2007: Commander of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden)
• 2011: Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
• 2012: Member 5th Class of the Order of Kuwait.

References

External links

• Profile on the Worshipful Company of Musicians website
• Listing on Debrett's People of Today website