Sir Alastair King joins academia to champion inward investment and dynamic UK

Bayes Business School and the Finsbury Institute have appointed former Lord Mayor Sir Alastair King as Professor of Practice in International Trade at City St George’s, University of London.

Sir Alastair, who was knighted a few months after stepping down as Lord Mayor, will work with academics and students at Bayes (formerly Cass) and contribute to the work of the Finsbury Institute – City St George’s policy research and practice hub.

As well as founding and leading several financial services and asset management firms, Sir Alastair has continued the drive for inward investment that marked out his year as Lord Mayor. With his mayoral theme of “Growth Unleashed”, he exhorted the UK’s financial, professional, legal and maritime services sectors to show more global ambition and to reintroduce calculated risk to their business decisions.

By acting as a bridge between Bayes, the City of London and the wider international business and policy community, Sir Alastair will be able to push that agenda with the next generation of business leaders. In practical terms, that means helping us build senior relationships with business leaders, policymakers, professional bodies and civic institutions; convening high-level discussions and events; supporting research and knowledge exchange; and bring practitioner insight into the School's teaching, executive education and public engagement.

As Professor of Practice in International Trade, Sir Alastair will help connect academic expertise with the live challenges facing business – including inward investment, scale-up capital, international markets and the future competitiveness of the UK’s financial and professional services sectors.

Blending professional practice and the lecture hall

The Head of Bayes’ Faculty of Actuarial Science and Insurance, Dr Simone Krummaker, said: “We’re really looking forward to Sir Alastair swapping the ceremonial mayoral robes for an academic gown. The appointment underlines the value of our deep relationship with the world-leading businesses based in the Square Mile and its great institutions.

“Sir Alastair brings with him an incredibly wide range of skills and expertise – from asset management and entrepreneurship to financial innovation and tech. Given his enthusiasm for supporting ambitious business professionals and entrepreneurs and his reputation as a networker extraordinaire, he will feel right at home in City St George’s – the university of the professions.

“His appointment should help Bayes translate its research strengths into practical influence, while ensuring that our academic work remains closely connected to the needs of business, the City and the wider economy.

“We also admire his ‘can-do’, practical attitude."

Professor Diana Beech, Director of the Finsbury Institute, said: “Sir Alastair’s appointment is a major coup for the Finsbury Institute. His experience as former Lord Mayor of the City of London, combined with his extensive knowledge of the City, its livery companies and the global business community, will bring tremendous value to our work.

“At a time when collaboration between universities, industry and policymakers is more important than ever, Alastair’s insight, networks and leadership will help strengthen the Finsbury Institute’s impact and reach, while ensuring we remain closely attuned to the issues that matter most to the City and its future prosperity.

“I am delighted that he is joining us at such a pivotal stage in the Finsbury Institute’s development. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to establish the Finsbury Institute as a leading voice on the relationship between higher education, business and civic life.”

Having spent his early career as a solicitor at a major law firm in London and Asia, Sir Alastair embarked on a successful career leading firms in investment and asset management.

Sir Alastair continues to represent the ward of Queenhithe in the City of London as an Alderman, a role he was first elected to in 2016 following 17 years as the area’s Common Councilman.

He chaired the Institute of Directors’ London region, and currently chairs the British Liver Trust, the UK’s national liver charity.  He is an active member of the business networking organisation YPO (the Young Presidents’ Organisation).