Bronek Masojada Becomes 698th Lord Mayor of London as Lord Mayor’s Show Returns Today
Bronek Masojada took office as the 698th Lord Mayor of the City of London at the traditional Silent Ceremony at Guildhall on Friday, 13 November 2026. Today, Saturday 14 November, he leads the Lord Mayor’s Show through the Square Mile in his first public engagement in the role.
The Durban-born former chief executive of insurer Hiscox succeeds Dame Susan Langley DBE. His election marks two firsts at once: Masojada is the first British citizen of Polish descent to hold the office, and the first Lord Mayor to begin his year with a river journey aboard the ceremonial barge Jubilant.
| Bronek Masojada — Quick Reference Summary | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Bronislaw Edmund Masojada |
| Born | 31 December 1961, Durban, South Africa (age 64) |
| Office | 698th Lord Mayor of the City of London |
| Took office | 13 November 2026, Silent Ceremony, Guildhall |
| Predecessor | Dame Susan Langley DBE |
| First public engagement | Lord Mayor’s Show, Saturday 14 November 2026 |
| Career | Hiscox, 1993–2021; Group Chief Executive, 2000–2021 |
| Civic roles | Alderman for Billingsgate since 2019; Sheriff of the City of London, 2023/24 |
| Term | One year, to November 2027 |
From Durban Classrooms to the Guildhall
Masojada was born in Durban and matriculated at Durban High School in 1979 before studying civil engineering at the University of Natal, now the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He went on to become a Rhodes Scholar, and his path from South African classrooms to the top of London’s civic life has been celebrated this week by his former school and university.
He joined Hiscox in 1993 and spent 28 years at the insurer, including 21 years as group chief executive from 2000 until his retirement in 2021. During that time he oversaw its transformation into a global FTSE-listed specialist insurer. He has also chaired the East End Community Foundation, which supports employment and life chances across East London, and he resigned from the board of Brown & Brown on 21 October 2026 because of the obligations of the mayoralty, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
His civic career inside the City moved step by step. Masojada was elected Alderman for the Ward of Billingsgate in 2019 and served as a Sheriff of the City of London in 2023/24. Lord Mayors are chosen from among the City’s 25 aldermen, and only those who have already served as Sheriff are eligible.
A First for Britain’s Polish Community
Masojada is the first British citizen of Polish descent to hold the office of Lord Mayor of the City of London, and Polish organisations are joining today’s procession to mark the milestone. He has said he hopes Polish residents of London and surrounding areas will line the route and wave Polish flags.
The historic first has drawn attention well beyond the Square Mile. The Polish Institute in London described the Show as a historic occasion for the Polish community in the UK, while coverage in South Africa has celebrated a Durban-born businessman reaching the pinnacle of London’s civic life.
The Lord Mayor’s Show 2026: What Happens Today
The day begins on the river. At 8:30am Masojada departs Westminster aboard the Royal Shallop Jubilant, accompanied by his wife, the Sheriffs of the City of London and a flotilla of 15 livery boats. He will make his pledge of allegiance to the monarch at the Royal Courts of Justice, on the boundary between the City and Westminster.
The street procession then sets off from Mansion House at 11:00am, covering more than 4.5 kilometres through the City of London in a tradition that stretches back more than 800 years. The cast of the South African production INALA will bring Zulu song and dance to the procession, celebrating Masojada’s South African heritage as he begins his term.
An Unpaid Office With a Global Brief
The Lord Mayor of the City of London is not paid a salary. The City of London Corporation describes the role as unpaid and apolitical, held full-time for twelve months, with the Lord Mayor living at Mansion House and receiving an allowance whose size the Corporation does not publish.
The office is also frequently confused with a different job. The Lord Mayor is not the Mayor of London: that post is held by Sadiq Khan, who governs Greater London and its 32 boroughs, is elected for a four-year term and draws a salary. The Lord Mayor instead heads the City of London Corporation, which governs the Square Mile, and acts as an international ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services sector.
Connecting Capital With Opportunity
Masojada has said he will use the office to connect talent and capital with opportunities across the UK, while acting as an international ambassador for the country’s financial and professional services sector. His mayoral programme focuses on attracting investment, supporting emerging industries and promoting opportunities across the country by bringing together capital, institutions, skilled workers and international partnerships.
One of his early priorities is the Corporation’s InvestConnect platform, designed to connect pension capital with UK investment opportunities. “This City of London Corporation-led initiative will provide a real catalyst in connecting opportunity to investment – putting money to work, to grow the UK economy whilst growing UK pension members’ savings. It’s a real win-win,” Masojada said.
He was elected at Common Hall on 29 September 2026 after Alderman Tim Hailes withdrew from consideration for the 2026/27 mayoralty. Masojada had been the candidate for 2027/28, and the Court of Aldermen decided, as part of established succession planning, to support him a year early instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Bronek Masojada? A: Bronek Masojada, born Bronislaw Edmund Masojada on 31 December 1961 in Durban, South Africa, is a British businessman who led insurer Hiscox as group chief executive for 21 years. He is the 698th Lord Mayor of the City of London.
Q: When did Bronek Masojada become Lord Mayor? A: He formally took office at the Silent Ceremony at Guildhall on Friday, 13 November 2026, succeeding Dame Susan Langley DBE. The Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday, 14 November 2026 is his first public engagement.
Q: Is the Lord Mayor of London the same as the Mayor of London? A: No. The Lord Mayor is the civic head of the City of London Corporation, chosen from the City’s aldermen for a one-year, unpaid term. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is elected by Londoners to govern Greater London for a four-year term.
Q: Is the Lord Mayor of London paid? A: No salary is paid. The City of London Corporation calls the role unpaid and apolitical, although the Lord Mayor lives at Mansion House during the year in office and receives an allowance.
Q: What is the Lord Mayor’s Show? A: It is an annual procession through the City of London that has run for more than 800 years. Each new Lord Mayor’s first public engagement is to lead the Show, which in 2026 sets off from Mansion House at 11:00am on Saturday, 14 November.
Q: Why is Bronek Masojada’s election historic? A: He is the first British citizen of Polish descent to hold the office, and only the second former pupil of Durban High School to become Lord Mayor, after Sir Gavyn Arthur, who held the office from 2002 to 2003.
