The boss of Hakluyt, the company intelligence agency, is being lined up for a prime enterprise function in Sir Keir Starmer’s fledgling Labour administration.
Sky Information has learnt that Varun Chandra, who has been Hakluyt’s managing associate since 2019, is in superior talks to affix the federal government.
Sources mentioned on Tuesday that he was prone to tackle a senior enterprise liaison function in 10 Downing Avenue – a job occupied by Lord Petitgas, the previous Morgan Stanley banker, in Rishi Sunak’s administration.
Like Lord Petitgas, Mr Chandra is an ex-Lehman Brothers banker who went on to determine the regulated enterprise operations of Tony Blair, the previous prime minister.
Hakluyt is a privately owned agency which specialises in company intelligence for shoppers – an space which has turn into more and more profitable within the advanced geopolitical area confronting multinational corporations.
Labour sources cautioned on Tuesday {that a} function for Mr Chandra had but to be finalised and that he may but take an alternate place such because the funding minister publish held by Lord Johnson within the final authorities.
Whereas the latter place would include a peerage, it was unclear whether or not the Downing Avenue enterprise liaison job would accomplish that.
Hakluyt’s worldwide advisory board is chaired by Lord Hague, the previous Tory chief and international secretary, whereas Olly Robbins, who served as Theresa Might’s chief Brexit negotiator, additionally works for the agency.
If he does take a job in authorities, Mr Chandra would want to eliminate his curiosity in Hakluyt or place it in a blind belief or equal construction.
Learn extra from Sky Information:
Q&A – what’s going to occur to tax underneath Labour?
Labour to woo world buyers
Hakluyt declined to remark whereas Downing Avenue didn’t reply to enquiries.
