In a world where power is often advertised rather than earned, Varun Chandra stands apart.
While some Westminster figures dominate headlines; others operate in the shadows, steering decisions with quiet precision and Chandra belongs firmly to the latter. Once labelled a “business whisperer” for his ability to translate corporate unease into political clarity, he has become one of the most discreet yet influential architects of the Starmer era.
Serving as Special Adviser on Business & Investment to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he is entrusted with nothing less than reshaping Britain’s economic direction. And yet his rise, from far outside the usual elite circles, was anything but predictable.
A journey forged in grit
Born in 1984 to Indian immigrant parents in the windswept coastal town of South Shields, Chandra’s journey is a modern British-Indian epic. His father, originally from Bihar, India, who worked his way up to become a doctor, and his mother, who ran a small food business, built a life rooted in hard work and sacrifice. In this modest household, education wasn’t just valued, it was the ticket to a different future. And young Varun absorbed that message deeply.
From the prestigious Royal Grammar School in Newcastle to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), Chandra’s ascent was steady and relentless. His brilliance, sharpened by a distinctly Indian emphasis on academic excellence, propelled him first into the world of global finance.
The making of a global strategist
His early career saw him at Lehman Brothers during the high-octane pre-crash years, before he moved into Tony Blair’s post-premiership advisory business; a role that exposed him to heads of state, multinational giants, and global crises. This international immersion laid the foundation for what would become his signature skill: navigating the space where power, diplomacy, and markets collide.
Then came Hakluyt, the discreet corporate intelligence firm founded by former MI6 officers. Chandra joined in 2014 and shattered tradition by becoming, in 2019, its first Managing Partner without an intelligence or government background. Under his watch, Hakluyt expanded into a global strategic powerhouse, advising nearly 40% of the world’s most valuable companies and launching a $50 million tech investment fund. His network spanning CEOs, investors, political leaders, and thinkers became legendary. So did his compensation: in 2023 alone, he earned £2.1 million.
A dramatic pivot to Downing Street
And then, in a move that stunned Westminster and the City alike, Chandra walked away to join Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Special Adviser on Business & Investment in July 2024. It was a dramatic pivot, from the shadows of elite advisory work to the frontlines of government policymaking.
Inside No 10, Chandra quickly became the government’s “business whisperer,” the trusted intermediary who could soothe nervous markets, charm global investors, and decode corporate concerns for ministers. His Indian upbringing, steeped in humility, diplomacy, and the ability to build bridges across worlds, proved invaluable.
His fingerprints are already on several major developments:
- the 2025 UK–US trade deal, negotiated alongside senior American officials,
- a £1 billion investment secured from the United Arab Emirates,
- key regulatory reforms, including guidance to Chancellor Rachel Reeves on reshaping the Competition and Markets Authority,
- and crucial behind-the-scenes work stabilising investor confidence after fiscal tightening measures.
His effectiveness, and his ability to speak the languages of both government and global business, have made him a frontrunner to replace Peter Mandelson as the UK’s next envoy to the United States.
A life rooted in culture, service, and philanthropy
Beyond Downing Street, Chandra’s commitments reveal a man deeply rooted in cultural and philanthropic work. He is a trustee of the Young Vic, the British Asian Trust, Sesame Workshop, the MCC Foundation, and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and is involved with multiple innovation and arts organisations.
Still, Chandra’s rise has not been without controversy. His financial ties to Hakluyt, though declared and managed, have drawn scrutiny. Critics question whether someone with such deep corporate roots can ever truly step into the realm of public service without conflict. But supporters argue that his very hybridity, part strategist, part diplomat, part corporate consigliere, is what Britain needs in an economy desperate for investment and global relevance.
At its heart, Varun Chandra’s story is one of possibility. A son of Indian immigrants who climbed from small-town life to Oxford, from global finance to the uppermost rung of government, he embodies a cross-cultural success story that resonates with Britain’s South Asian communities.
