Lars Andersen

Lars grew up in Norway, reading economics at a French university and completing a tri-lingual MBA in Paris-Oxford-Berlin. He then moved to London to work in finance, mostly technology mergers & acquisitions and insurance (Broadview/Jefferies, Cavendish Corporate Finance, Australia Mutual Provident, Aegon). In 2004, Lars founded My Nametags out of the need to label his own children’s clothing. Since then, his goal has been to create the best labels in the world. My Nametags sells name tags to 151 countries and has received a Queen's Award for International Trade. Lars is deeply involved in the City. He is a Master-Elect of the World Traders, on the Court of the Guild of Freemen, and has served as a Master of the Entrepreneurs. He is also on the Council of the Royal Society of St George (City Branch) and the Committee of Broad Street Ward Club.

Shrieval Elections

Lars has been involved in a number of shrieval elections as Election Agent and Hon. Secretary of Chain Appeals. The Sheriff page lays out some of the things to think about before and after being elected as Sheriff of the City of London. If you are interested in the office of Sheriff or being considered for Sheriff, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Civic

Master Entrepreneur

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.

Master-Elect World Trader

He will 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.

Past Master Associations

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). If you are on the path to be Master in 2024-2025, 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.

Shrieval Elections

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.

Other Livery and Civic roles

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.

Professional

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 and Insurance roles in the UK and Europe.
Lars is also an investor in sustainable companies (both listed and unlisted) and owns a Norwegian forest (with elks). He is a founder of a small property company.

Non-executive roles

Lars was a non-executive for Reading/Berkshire Credit Union, and sat on their supervisory board.

Charity

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.

Livery charities

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.

Treloars

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.

Other City charitable projects

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.

Other charities

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.

Fundraising

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!").

Military

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.