Bosses to advise Mayor Khan on London's economy as Brexit looms

The importance of London's technology sector to the future of its economy will be underlined on Monday when the city's Mayor names his inaugural panel of private sector advisers.

Sky News can reveal that executives from companies including Facebook (NasdaqGS: FB - news) , Citymapper and Love Home Swap‎ will be appointed to Sadiq Khan's business advisory board.

The panel's recruitment contrasts with the approach of Theresa May, who disbanded the advisory group formed by her predecessor as Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Nearly one-third of the 16 members of Mr Khan's group work directly in the tech sector, including Nicola Mendelsohn, the vice-president of Facebook responsible for its European operations.

Last week, the social media company announced plans to create an additional 500 jobs in London when it moves to new headquarters in the city.

Among the other tech bosses joining the Mayor's advisory board are Debbie Wosskow, founder and chief executive of Love Home Swap, a leading player in the so-called sharing economy; Omid Ashtari, general manager of Citymapper; Kathryn Parsons, the entrepreneur behind the technology education company DeCoded; and Sarah Wood, co-founder and chief executive of video advertising tech group Unruly.

London's financial services sector is comparatively under-represented on Mr Khan's group, although the chief executives of Lloyd's of London, the London Stock Exchange (Other OTC: LDNXF - news) and Virgin Money have been signed up.

The other participants include a director of Bloomberg, the Travelex founder Lloyd Dorfman, the chief executive of Patisserie Valerie's parent company, the founder of baby clothing retailer Jojo Maman Bebe, and Vivian Hunt, the managing partner of consulting firm McKinsey.

Ten of the group's 16 members are women, a deliberate statement by Mr Khan and his advisers in the context of a renewed push to ensure greater female representation at the top level of business, insiders said.

His panel will meet quarterly, and will "provide insight on the impact of economic conditions, and policy decisions taken elsewhere, on business in London", according to a statement to be released on Monday.

‎The group's formation comes amid uncertainty for key drivers of London's economy, including the financial services sector's ability to access Europe's passporting regime after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Khan, who was elected in May, has said he will examine proposals tabled by business groups to create ‎London-only visas that would enable companies in the capital to sponsor skilled workers for a permit to take a job.

"Having helped to run and grow a business, I know at first hand the challenges that our business community faces," Mr Khan will say on Monday.

"However, London is home to an unrivalled pool of business talent, and of business leaders who want to use their knowledge and experience to the benefit of our city.

"London business is still coming to terms with the recent vote to leave the EU and I am looking forward to working with the Business Advisory Board to strengthen London's shield against the expected blows from Brexit and to seize the opportunities to show how London is open to jobs, growth and investment."