Bloomberg and LSE launch Europe’s first mayors’ leadership programme

A new US$50 million initiative from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has launched Europe’s first professional leadership and management programme for mayors, designed to strengthen city hall capacity as municipalities take on a growing share of national and regional priorities.

The Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative, delivered by LSE Cities in partnership with the Hertie School in Berlin, will provide mayors and senior local government officials with the tools, training, and networks to tackle challenges such as housing shortages, climate adaptation, infrastructure, and resident engagement.

The inaugural class brings together 31 mayors and 62 senior officials from 17 countries, collectively representing more than 22 million residents. Participants were selected through an application process that assessed leadership commitment, innovation capacity, and readiness to deliver a resident-focused project.

Eligible cities had to have populations of at least 100,000, mayors elected or re-elected within the past five years, and no local elections scheduled during the programme period (October 2025–June 2026).

“We continue to expand our municipal leadership programs globally, because we’ve seen how well they work–and we want more cities to benefit,” said Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th Mayor of New York City. “As Europe increasingly looks to local governments to lead, we’re glad to join forces …on this new initiative. Together, we can bring mayors and senior officials the tools, training, and peer networks they need to take on their biggest challenges–and succeed.”

National and EU policies are increasingly being delivered through cities, from infrastructure to resilience, often with constrained budgets and limited capacity. A recent Eurocities survey found that 86 percent of mayors believe their cities must innovate to overcome resource constraints, while two-thirds said leadership and collaboration are key to achieving results.

“Cities are where our most complex, urgent challenges show up first, and so where real solutions often start,” said Professor Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor of LSE. “Mayors across Europe are looking to lead–but to address the unique problems they face and deliver on new opportunities that emerge, they need sharp management, strong teams, and the skills to innovate. This is precisely what the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative will help provide.”

Stefano Lo Russo, Mayor of Turin, said his city’s trajectory of transformation embodies the type of city leadership the new initiative aims to support. “Turin has gone through many transformations throughout its history,” said “Our city has long benefited from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support to advance local government, and the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative will provide our team with even more. I am honoured to join its inaugural class, and participate in a programme that understands precisely what mayors need today, and where we belong: at the centre of Europe’s future.”

The inaugural cohort convened in London for a four-day programme featuring contributions from Bloomberg Philanthropies, LSE, the Hertie School, and UCL, along with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Two senior officials from each city will continue the programme in Berlin later this year.

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