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 accomplice since 2019, is in superior talks to hitch the federal government.
Sources stated on Tuesday that he was prone to tackle a senior enterprise liaison function in 10 Downing Road – 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 develop into more and more profitable within the complicated geopolitical enviornment confronting multinational corporations.
Labour sources cautioned on Tuesday {that a} function for Mr Chandra had but to be finalised and that he might but take another place such because the funding minister put up held by Lord Johnson within the final authorities.
Whereas the latter place would include a peerage, it was unclear whether or not the Downing Road enterprise liaison job would accomplish that.
Hakluyt’s worldwide advisory board is chaired by Lord Hague, the previous Tory chief and overseas secretary, whereas Olly Robbins, who served as Theresa Could’s chief Brexit negotiator, additionally works for the agency.
If he does take a job in authorities, Mr Chandra would want to get rid of his curiosity in Hakluyt or place it in a blind belief or equal construction.
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Hakluyt declined to remark whereas Downing Road didn’t reply to enquiries.
