Lars Andersen

Lars speaks seven languages, after having lived and worked in a number of countries.

He holds British, French and German business degrees and grew up in Norway.

Lars' company, My Nametags, has received a Queen's Award for International Trade.

Lars founded My Nametags in 2004, a company that makes iron-on and sticker name labels for children. The company received a Queen's Award for International Trade in 2018, for selling nametags to 151 countries around the world.

Prior to founding My Nametags, Lars worked in Corporate Finance, mainly technology mergers and aqusisions. He also worked in insurance.
Lars is also an investor in sustainable companies (both listed and unlisted). He is a founder of a small property company.

Lars was a non-executive for Reading/Berkshire Credit Union, and sat on their supervisory board. He has also chaired a learning disability charity based in South London.

Lars is deeply engaged with the livery, and has a deep knowledge and understanding of the City.

Lars stepped up to be Master World Trader in October 2024. Lars became a Liveryman of the World Traders in 2015 and he has chaired the Events/Events Management Committee and sat on most of the other committees. Lars organised the World Traders' Guinness World Record in 2018: Most Nationalities to Sing a Pop Song.

Lars was a founder of the Guild of the Entrepreneurs in 2014 and has served as the 7th Master of the Company of Entrepreneurs in 2020-2021 (during much of the Covid lockdown). He has chaired the Membership and Nominations Committees, as well as the Trust.

As a Past Master, Lars chairs the Unmuteables Past Master Association (for Masters 2020-2021).
He is also currently organising the future Masters 2024-2025 (working name The Presumptives), such as a visit to the Clink Restaurant inside Brixton Prison. If you will be Master in 2024-2025 and you are not yet on the Presumptives WhatsApp, please get in touch.
Lars is on the main committee for the Livery Past Masters Association (LPMA), which helps form and organise all the Past Masters Associations.

Lars has been involved as Election Agent and/or Hon. Secretary for Chain Appeals for Alderman and Professor Michael Mainelli, Alderman Nick Lyons, Andrew Marsden, Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley DBE and David Chalk. He has also helped and advised other Aldermanic and non-aldermanic shrieval candidates. If you are interested in becoming a Sheriff, read this introduction to getting elected as Sheriff of London.

He is also on the Court of the Guild of Freemen. Lars is on the Management Committee of Broad Street Ward Club, the Council of the Royal Society of St George (City Branch), and a member of City Livery Club.

Lars is also involved in other City activity, such as the Treloar's Gala Dinner, Sheriff's Ball, Lord Mayor's Grand Finale and more.

One of the core pillars of the livery is the charitable contributions. Livery companies, directly and indirectly, give a huge amount of money and time to charitable projects.

He was a trustee of the Entrepreneurs' Charity and helped restructure the board to ensure that we got more experienced trustees to run the charity. Lars is currently a member of the World Traders' Charity Committee.

Treloars School is a great charitable institution based in Alton in Hampshire, enabling education for disabled young people. Treloar's was started in 1907 when the then Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir William Purdie Treloar, set up a ‘Cripples’ Fund’ as his mayoral appeal. The school has kept close links with the City of London every since. Lars has been involved in supporting Treloar's in raising money from Gala Dinners at Mansion House.

Two of the great charitable projects in the City of London is the Sheriff's Ball and the Lord Mayor's Grand Finale. Lars has been on the organisation committee for both of these events, raising large amounts for charity.

Lars is engaged with a number of charities. He has chaired a 350-staff charity supporting people with learning disabilities and was a founder and on the supervisory board of a credit union, among others.

Lars has also been involved in other fundraising projects for charity, most recently raising more than £3,000 for the Lord Mayor's Appeal by abseiling down the Lloyds Building ("yes, it is very high and looks very scary from the roof!").

Lars is a great supporter of the military and the military affiliations of the various organisations of the City of London. He served in the Norwegian Army, mostly in the south but also inspecting the Norwegian army camps close to the Soviet/Russian border.

In addition, Lars has been involved with setting up and maintaining military links and affiliations with the Entrepreneurs and World Traders.

Jenifer, Lars' consort is very active in the City. She is member of the Drapers and is Vice-Chair and Head of Membership for City Consorts. Jenifer has written an excellent book about the City of London, called "Domine Dirige Nos - An Introduction to the City of London" (available on Amazon and all the best bookstores on Cheapside).