Cllr Abdul Mohamed, a Labour councillor for Faraday ward in Walworth, was elected as Mayor of Southwark at the council's annual meeting on Wednesday night.
Cllr Mohamed was born in Kenya's rift valley to Somaliland parents. His grandfather had immigrated to Kenya as a soldier with the King's African Rifles camel corp.
He is married to Caroline McDonald, an Australian, and they have one son. They have lived in Peckham for 25 years.
Cllr Mohamed graduated from Leeds University where he trained with the former National Coal Board as a mining engineer. He then left to work as a mining engineer in Africa where he spent some time in the Copper belt in Zambia.
He has also worked in inner city regeneration since the late 1980s, including stints with Haringey and Lambeth councils. He has been one of the Faraday ward councillors since May 2002.
The new Mayor is a keen cyclist who champions cycling in Southwark. In his new role he has committed to making less use of the mayoral car and more use of public transport and his bicycle.
It is one of a number of changes to the Mayor's role which will soon be announced in the light of the findings of the recent civic review.
"It is an honour for me to be elected Mayor and I am really looking forward to representing Southwark in this important role," he said.
"As Deputy Mayor I was fortunate enough to meet many local people who never failed to impress me with their sense of community and compassion for the most vulnerable in society.
"They are the epitome of the fairer future philosophy this council subscribes to. I hope that I can continue to work with everyone in Southwark to celebrate the love we share for a corner of London that is forever England while also being home to the nations of the world."
Cllr Sunil Chopra, ward councillor for Nunhead, was appointed as Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Mohamed will use his year in office to raise money for the Evelina Children's Hospital. Now based in Lambeth at St Thomas' Hospital, the Evelina was founded in Southwark at Mint Street.
The Evelina is currently the subject of a major fundraising initiative led by the Southwark News and backed by councillors of all parties. Forthcoming events include a comedy night at the Ministry of Sound organised by Cllr Neil Coyle.
