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Who is Varun Chandra, the newly appointed UK special envoy to U.S.?
The appointment follows US$204 billion in U.S. investment commitments and ongoing transatlantic trade talks.
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Anushka Pathak - Fri, 23, Jan 2026
- 14:58 EST
- 26
Varun Chandra, the newly appointed Indian-origin UK special envoy to the U.S. / Courtesy: LinkedIn
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed Varun Chandra as the country’s special envoy to the United States on trade and investment.
In the role, Chandra will lead cross-government efforts to advance British economic interests in the U.S., the UK’s largest single-country trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding US$450 billion (£330 billion) annually.
The position is non-resident, with Chandra remaining based in the UK while travelling regularly to the U.S. and continuing in his Downing Street advisory role.
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Education and early life
Chandra was born in November 1984 in South Shields, northeast England, to Indian immigrant parents from the state of Bihar. His father was a doctor recruited by the National Health Service.
He attended the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, on a scholarship before studying philosophy, politics, and economics at Magdalen College, University of Oxford, from 2003 to 2006. While at Oxford, he served as president of the Junior Common Room and participated in several college sports.
Varun Chandra with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick / Courtesy: X/@howardlutnickCareer trajectory
He began his career in investment banking, training at Lehman Brothers in London shortly before the firm’s collapse in 2008. He later advised former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, contributing to the establishment of a regulated advisory firm focused on political economy and cross-border transactions, and also worked on Labour Party leadership efforts and economic advisory roles.
Chandra went on to found and chair a venture capital firm operating between Silicon Valley and the UK, lead a family-office-backed merchant bank, and help establish two companies. From 2013 to 2014, he joined Hakluyt & Co., a strategic advisory firm, rising to global managing partner from 2019 to 2024.
During this period, he advised multinational corporations and investors on complex commercial and geopolitical issues across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and later helped establish Hakluyt Capital as a founding partner and chair.
Alongside his government work, Chandra has been active in philanthropy and education, including founding the associate board of The Opportunity Network and serving on boards across education, technology, and agriculture.
Downing Street role
He joined Starmer’s administration in July 2024 as chief adviser on business, investment, and trade. In that role, he sits on the Office for Investment board, chairs the Global Talent Taskforce, and has been involved in shaping UK-U.S. trade discussions.
Chandra’s envoy role will focus on advancing trade and investment ties with the United States, including engagement with U.S. business leaders and trade dialogue mechanisms, while coordinating across key UK departments.
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