The Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands has called for long-standing negative stereotypes of Birmingham to be challenged, urging people to “focus on the magnificence” of the region’s culture, sport and communities.
Derrick Anderson CBE made the remarks after receiving an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University (BCU) in recognition of more than 30 years of outstanding public service. “The most important way to promote the West Midlands and Birmingham is to focus on its magnificence, especially with culture and sport,” said Anderson.
“But we must also challenge some of the negative stereotypes, some of which are decades old.” A highly respected figure in local government, Anderson joined Wolverhampton Council in 1991 and became its chief executive in 1996, making history as the UK’s first Afro-Caribbean to hold such a post outside of London.
He later served as chief executive of the London Borough of Lambeth from 2006 until his retirement in 2015. Anderson has also played a key role on the national stage.
He was a non-executive director for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, an influential member of the bid team that helped London secure the 2012 Olympic Games, and a valued supporter of Birmingham’s recent successful bid for World Craft City status. Awarded a CBE in 2003 for services to local government, Anderson was appointed Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands in August 2024.
In the role, he represents the Crown across a region of nearly three million people spanning seven local authorities.
