Cllr Sharon Holder has been confirmed as the new Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham.
Sharon, a long-time resident of Fulham who met her husband and raised her family in the borough, said:
Thank you very much for this great honour, which is more than most people attending tonight can ever imagine. This borough has truly defined my whole life, and I pledge to promote H&F as an amazing place to grow up, to listen and to serve this community. And to work to make H&F a stronger, safer and kinder borough."
She brings extensive experience to the Mayoral role. A councillor for 11 years, she's previously served as Cabinet Member for Public Realm and other roles including Lead Member for Inclusive Community Engagement and Co-production.
As Mayor, Cllr Holder wants to act as a role model promoting unity in the borough. She appointed Nubian Life, Fulham Good Neighbours, and the Fulham Pearly Kings and Queens as her charities for her Mayoral year.
Sharon was passed the Mayoral duties by outgoing Mayor Cllr Patricia Quigley, who served in the role since 2023. Tributes were paid to her by H&F Leader Stephen Cowan as well as by Cllrs Nicole Trehy, Stala Antoniades and Jose Afonso.
Meanwhile, Cllr Daryl Brown will continue in her role as Deputy Mayor of H&F.
The Mayoral roles were announced at the H&F Council's Annual General meeting on Wednesday evening (21 May).
Cabinet positions announced
Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier has been appointed as the Cabinet Member for Public Realm in a series of leadership changes at the council. This means he will lead on the improvements and decisions about H&F's publicly accessible spaces.
Cllr Chevoppe-Verdier will also continue his role as Lead Member for European Co-operation and Digital Innovation.
Speaking of the changes, Leader Cllr Stephen Cowan, said:
I'm extremely grateful to Cllr Chevoppe-Verdier for his diligence and hard work. Councillor you did us very proud, and I do wish you well in your current position."
Here is the full list of Cabinet Members and their roles:
- Stephen Cowan – Leader
- Alex Sanderson – Deputy Leader
- Andrew Jones – Cabinet Member for the Economy
- Florian Chevoppe-Verdier – Cabinet Member for Public Realm
- Frances Umeh – Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness
- Rowan Ree – Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform
- Rebecca Harvey – Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety
- Wesley Harcourt – Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology
- Bora Kwon – Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health
- Zarar Qayyum – Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Skills
*The Deputy Leader also has the portfolio for Children and Education.
Lead Member appointments
The Council has also confirmed the appointment of the following Lead Members:
- Florian Chevoppe-Verdier – Lead Member for European Co-operation and Digital Innovation
- Adam Peter Lang – Lead Member for Culture and Art
- Lucy Richardson – Lead Member for Community Mental Health
- Asif Siddique – Lead Member for Support for Older People
- Alex Sanderson – Lead Member for Inclusive Community Engagement and Co-production
- Trey Campbell-Simon – Lead Member for Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Migrants
- Lydia Paynter – Lead Member for Women and Girls
- Helen Rowbottom – H&F Industrial Strategy Ambassador
- Liz Collins – Lead Member for Energy Crisis Support
- Laura Janes – Lead Member for Wellbeing and Early Access to Support
- Stala Antoniades – Lead Member for Land Development
- Ross Melton – Lead Member for Energy and Decarbonisation
- Sally Taylor – Lead Member for Communications
- Patrick Walsh – Borough Representative for the Armed Forces Community
