LONDON - Further to the announcement by the British Prime Minister David Cameron last November, that Tariq Ahmad had been conferred a peerage by HM the Queen, he was formally introduced to the House of Lords on Wednesday as the Lord (Baron) Ahmad of Wimbledon, by the current Conservative Party Chairman, Rt Hon Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and former leader of the Conservative Party, Rt Hon Lord Michael Howard. Lord Tariq Ahmad, a British Pakistani was Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party (2008-10) and currently serves as Marketing and Strategy Director at a leading commodity and financial futures and options firm, Sucden Financial, where he has been a member of executive team since 2004. A business graduate, he brings to Parliament extensive experience of financial services and the City spanning over almost 20 years. Joining NatWest in 1991, he spent almost 10 years with the Group in corporate banking and strategy roles before joining the US funds and investment house, Alliance Bernstein. Lord Ahmad has been a member of the Conservative Party since 1994 and has served in various roles at both a local and national level for the Party, as well as in an elected capacity as a councillor in Wimbledon since 2002. He has also held Cabinet level position in the London Borough of Merton and as Deputy Chairman of the London Councils influential Transport and Environment Committee. Upon taking his seat Lord Ahmad said I am truly honoured and humbled by my appointment to the Lords and look forward to playing a full part in the affairs of our country at both a national and international level. There are many challenges that we face today and I believe my experience in business affairs, as well as an understanding of the communities that make up Britain today will allow me to contribute to debates across many areas.