Susan Langley

Susan Langley
Alderwoman of the City of London
Assumed office
12 July 2018
Preceded byPeter Hewitt
Succeeded byin office
Sheriff of the City of London
In office
28 September 2023 – 27 September 2024
Preceded byAlastair King
Succeeded byGregory Jones
Personal details
Born
Susan Carol Walford

(1963-07-02) 2 July 1963
West Ham, Essex, England
SpouseGary Phillip Langley JP (m. 2003)
Residence(s)London and Hertfordshire
ProfessionInsurer
Websitewww.ajg.com

Dame Susan Carol Langley DBE (née Walford, 2 July 1963), is a British businesswoman and civic leader, who served as Aldermanic Sheriff of the City of London for 2023/24,[1] and is Lady Mayor-elect of London for 2025/26.[2][3]

An insurer and financier, Langley is the non-executive chair of Gallagher UK since 2015,[4] and a non-executive director of UK Asset Resolution.[5]

Life

Family and education

Susan Carol Walford was born in 1963 at West Ham, then in Essex, the daughter of Shirley (née Manners) and James Walford. She was educated at Redden Court School[6] before going up to read Geography at the University of Southampton, graduating BSc.[7]

In 2003 she married Gary Langley,[8] a Justice of the Peace for Hertfordshire.[9]

Professional career

Having travelled in Australia after university, she joined Thomson Tour Operators as a programme manager and held various roles from 1987 to 1996, and then PricewaterhouseCoopers as a principal consultant working with a range of FTSE companies (1996–98), before becoming Chief Operating Officer of Hiscox. With Lloyd's of London from 2007 until 2012, Langley served as Director for North America and Market Development, Director of Lloyd's Asia and Chair of Lloyd's Japan, before joining the Department for Business and Trade as Chief Executive Officer for Financial and Professional Services from 2013 to 2015.[10]

A Senior Independent Director for UKAR (Northern Rock Asset Management and Bradford & Bingley) since 2010,[11] Langley chairs Gallagher UK since 2015 and served as Lead NED at HMG Home Office (2014–22)[12] as well as a Trustee of Macmillan Cancer Support from 2017 to 2021.

Civic service

Elected to represent Aldgate Ward on the Court of Aldermen since 2018 and the first to be formally styled Alderwoman,[13] Langley served as Aldermanic Sheriff of the City of London for 2023/24.[14]

Lady Mayor-elect for the 2025/26 term,[15][3] Dame Susan will become only the third woman to hold the office since its establishment in the 13th century and the first styled as Lady Mayor of London.[3]

Honours and appointments

National honours

Civic appointments

Lobbying for Equality of Arms in heraldry, Dame Susan has informed Garter of her intention not to petition the Earl Marshal for a grant of arms instead assuming a personal armorial design,[23] until such time as the Kings of Arms decree[24] positive change in the Laws of Arms, heraldic convention and practice for sex equality.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "City of London elects Sheriffs". Newsroom, City of London. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  2. ^ "City of London elects Sheriffs". City elects Sheriffs. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Chan, Jeremy (7 July 2024). "Insurance boss Dame Susan Langley picked as City's third female Lady Mayor — Langley will be the third woman to hold the 800-year-old position". Financial Times.
  4. ^ "Business Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting Services". Gallagher UK. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Spear's Survey: Susan Langley". Spears500. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Redden Court School". www.reddencourtcloud.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  7. ^ www.southampton.ac.uk
  8. ^ Langley, Dame Susan. "Election of Sheriffs for the City of London, Monday 26th June 2023 Candidature of Alderwoman Susan Langley" (PDF). LiveryCommittee.org. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  9. ^ www.cityconsorts.org
  10. ^ www.gov.uk
  11. ^ "UK Asset Resolution Ltd (UKAR)". UK Asset Resolution. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Sue Langley". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Take a bow: Sue Langley". Brummell Magazine. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  14. ^ "City of London elects Sheriffs". Newsroom, City of London. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  15. ^ "City of London elects Sheriffs". City elects Sheriffs. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  16. ^ "King's Birthday Honours List 2023: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)". gov.uk. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Sue Langley OBE". gov.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Order of St John: MStJ". The Gazette. 2024.
  19. ^ www.wci.org.uk
  20. ^ www.thedrapers.co.uk
  21. ^ The Goldsmiths' Review
  22. ^ www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
  23. ^ www.liverycommittee.org
  24. ^ www.college-of-arms.gov.uk
  25. ^ CUHAGS, Equality of Arms Campaign: "Equality" – isn’t a dirty word, Blackadder!