1 October 2007
City of London Corporation appoints key new staff to its
Economic Research team
Saxon Brettell and Laura Davison have joined the City of London
Corporation’s Economic Development Office as Head of Research and
Research Manager respectively. They will oversee the
cutting-edge programme of accurate, timely and well-focused
analysis and commentary pursued by the Guildhall-based Economic
Research team.
Commenting on his Head of Research appointment Saxon Brettell
said, “Retaining London's position as the world's leading financial
centre depends on a full understanding of the forces that drive
change and that make London ‘the’ essential place to do new
business. London’s concentration of business activities brings
substantial benefits to the UK and to the rest of world.”
“My priorities for the City of London Economic Research
programme are to work with others to understand those factors that
improve or constrain the City’s competitive position and to provide
the evidence-base that supports policymakers in the UK and
elsewhere. Our aim is to better support the competitive edge of the
City and to provide the research base for a socially and
environmentally sustainable City that continues to give the
greatest benefits to all.”
Laura Davison, appointed Research Manager said, “The aim of City
of London's research programme is to provide analysis to
policy-makers both inside and outside the City of London to help
them understand the performance trends and needs of the London
economy. I am looking forward to shaping the research programme to
address the key issues facing the City today.”
Martyn Baker, Director of Economic Development for the City of
London said, “I am delighted that Saxon and Laura have joined us.
They bring a wealth of experience and I look forward to their
further development of our major programme of commissioned
research. I am confident that this and our ongoing analytical
work will continue to stimulate policy discussion on vital issues
such as immigration, regeneration and skills; EU and domestic
regulation; the further sustainable development of the City as well
as London’s wider economy; and the opportunities and challenges of
globalisation.”
Saxon Brettell is one of the UK’s leading professional
economists. In a long academic and consultancy career, most
recently at Cambridge Econometrics, Saxon has conducted major
pieces of research for the EU and for government and regional
agencies across the UK, as well as for private sector
organisations. He was elected in 2005 to the Academy of Learned
Societies in the Social Sciences and is also a Fellow of the Royal
Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and
Commerce.
Dr Laura Davison is qualified as a Chartered Psychologist and
joins the City of London with 11 years of experience in research
and consultancy. She has published widely in the field of social
sciences and most recently was a Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brookes
University.
Ends
Notes for editors
City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation is committed to maintaining and
enhancing the status of the wealth and tax-generating business of
the City as the world's leading international financial and
business centre through its policies and services. Examples are the
extensive overseas business missions on behalf of UK-based
financial services and the wide-ranging economic development,
research and regeneration effort the City of London Corporation
undertakes across London. It also runs the City Office in Brussels
on behalf of the City, City Representations in Beijing, Shenzhen
and Shanghai – and a City Office in Mumbai. Although the City of
London Corporation provides local government services for the City,
the financial and commercial heart of Britain, its responsibilities
also extend far beyond the City boundaries and include funding and
managing the Barbican Centre, running the Central Criminal Court at
the Old Bailey, 10,000 acres of open space around London and three
wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London Port Health
Authority – and running the Animal Reception Centre at
Heathrow.
For more information contact Cubby Fox, City of London Press
Office on 020 7332 3451.