The Master is John Bennett MBE
The Company is established by Royal Charter and is registered at Companies House with the number RC000821. The governing body is the Court which consists of a Master, Senior Warden (also known as the Deputy Master), Middle and Junior Wardens and a number of Past Masters and Liverymen; the Court usually meets four times a year. The Master is elected annually in late June or early July by the Court of Assistants at the Election Court and is normally chosen from the Wardens in order of the Wardens’ seniority. The Wardens are elected annually by the Court of Assistants and together with the new Master take office at the Installation Court held in late September or early October. The Court of Assistants also elects/appoints Liverymen to the Court of Assistants.
Court Dates
2022
6th October 5:00pm Installation Court at Drapers Hall
2023
25th January 5:00pm at Furniture Makers Hall
26th April 5:00pm at Furniture Makers Hall
5th July 5:00pm (Election Court) at Furniture Makers Hll
4th October 5:00pm Installation Court & Dinner at Drapers Hall
Master's Committee dates
The venue is Furniture Makers' Hall, Mike Clare Room unless otherwise advised
2022
26th September 4:30pm
2023
17th January 4:30pm
18th April 4:30pm
27th June 4:30pm
26th September 4:30pm
Governing Documents
The governing document of the Company is the Royal Charter, sealed by The Queen, and under it are the Ordinances granted by the Court of Aldermen of the City of London. These two documents define the role and governance of the Company. You can read them here:
ESG Policy
The Court has recently adopted a policy on Environmental, Social/Societal & Governance issues as an important pillar for the next 20 years of the Company. The aim is to review all aspects of the Company's operations through the ESG lens and to report annually to members. You can read the Company's ESG policy by clicking on this link: ESG One Pager for the WCIB Final Version March 2022.pdf (internationalbankers.org.uk)
The Master and Wardens for 2021/22 are:
Master - John Bennett MBE
Senior Warden- Jason Van Praagh
Middle Warden - Angela Knight CBE
Junior Warden - Nick Garnish
The Clerk, Nicholas Westgarth, is appointed by the Court as the Chief Executive Officer and is the only permanent officer of the Company. The Clerk is Secretary to the Court and to Master’s Committee.
The running of the Company is delegated by the Court to the Master’s Committee, which acts as the executive committee of the Company, making policy recommendations to the Court. The Master’s Committee usually consists of the Master and Wardens, Immediate Past Master, 3 or 4 Past Masters and the 7 Chairmen of the Standing Committees.
The Company is the sole trustee of the International Bankers Charitable Trust registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales number 1087630. Nicholas Westgarth is also employed by the International Bankers Charitable Trust as it's Secretary.
The Company has seven standing committees chaired by Court Assistants which reflect its main activities:
Chairman: Peter Green
To provide assistance or subsidy to those falling within the charitable aims of the Company.
Communications
Chairman: John Thirlwell
To promote the Company’s activities both internally and externally.
Chairman: Jordan Buck
To formulate ideas and put forward proposals for events to the Master’s Committee.
Finance
Chairman: Jenny Knott
To oversee the financial aspects of the Company and IBCT and to make recommendations for the management of the funds to the Master’s Committee and Court.
Fundraising
Chairman: Jason Van Praagh
To oversee charitable fundraising, legacy donations and other similar fundraising activities for the IBCT and the Company.
Liverymen's
Chairman: Simon Hills
To promote the role of liverymen in the Company and their relations with other livery companies and the City.
Chairman: Tim Skeet
To oversee the membership process and progression of Freemen.
Associates Committee
There is one non-Standing Committee, the Associates Committee, which co-ordinates acitivites for the members of the Company under the age of 35. The Chairman is Jago Toner.
