{
  "id": 19277540,
  "title": "Durban-born businessman elected 698th Lord Mayor of London",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/durban-born-businessman-elected-698th-lord-mayor-of-london",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-10T03:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/feel-good/2026-11-10-durban-born-businessman-elected-698th-lord-mayor-of-london/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A businessman hailing from Durban has been elected as the 698th Lord Mayor of London. Alderman Bronek Masojada, a former pupil of Durban High School and University of Natal (now UKZN), will assume office on November 13 during a Silent Ceremony at Guildhall. His appointment has been met with celebration in KwaZulu-Natal, with both his former school and UKZN congratulating him on his election. Masojada, who earned an M.Phil. in Management Studies at Oxford after studying Civil Engineering at the University of Natal, built a successful international business career before joining Hiscox in 1993. He served as Group Chief Executive of Hiscox for 21 years, transforming the company into a leading global specialist insurer. Masojada's contributions to London's civic and business communities include serving as Alderman for Billingsgate Ward since 2019 and as Sheriff of the City of London in 2023/24. He will also serve as an international ambassador for the UK's financial and professional services sector during his mayoralty.",
  "summary": "Durban-born Bronek Masojada, a former Durban High School pupil and Rhodes Scholar, has been elected the 698th Lord Mayor of London.",
  "key_points": [
    "Durban-born Alderman Bronek Masojada elected 698th Lord Mayor of London",
    "Masojada served as Group CEO of Hiscox for 21 years",
    "Celebrated in KwaZulu-Natal, former school, and UKZN congratulate him"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Masojada’s elevation to the mayoralty leverages his extensive corporate background to strengthen the international profile of the United Kingdom’s financial and professional services sectors.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}