Lars Bendik 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.
In 2004, Lars founded My Nametags, a company that makes iron on and sticker name labels for children’s clothes and equipment. It received a Queen’s Award for International Trade for selling labels to 130 countries, from the then Prince Charles in 2018.
Lars was admitted as a Freeman of the World Traders in 2004. In 2018, he organised the World Traders’ Guinness World Record (the only one held by a Livery Company), bringing 84 nationalities together in a room to sing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ and ABBA’s ‘Mamma Mia’.
In 2020-2021, Lars was Master of Entrepreneurs. He has been the Election Agent and helped with the Chain Appeals for a number of Sheriffs, and Chairs the Unmuteables Past Master Association (20-21). He is a Committee member of Broad Street Ward Club.
Lars speaks 7 languages and as a Norwegian, is proud to be able to trace his ancestry back to one of the signatories of the Norwegian Constitution as well as to Harald Hardrada, Ragnar Lothbrok and other world-trading Vikings.
He enjoys time away from his businesses with his family. His wife, Jenifer, worked for a magic circle law firm before joining the nametags business. She is a Draper, Vice-Chairman of the City Consorts, and has written the book: “Domine Dirige Nos – an Introduction to the City of London”.
Lars has two daughters, one of whom won Henley Rowing Regatta and the other has received a BEM in the Queen’s New Years Honours list, aged 18. All his family is musical, to compensate for his complete lack of any musical ability. Lars also enjoys travelling, reading (particularly science fiction & history), eating at good restaurants, fly fishing and skiing. He owns a forest in Norway that yields sustainable wood and the odd elk steak.