UK PM Burnham Appoints Indian Origin Gautam Rangarajan as Expert Adviser
Gautam Rangarajan, a former BBC strategist with more than two decades of experience in media, creative industries and public broadcasting, joins 10 Downing Street in a newly created role focused on structure and process.
LONDON, Aug 12: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Indian-origin strategist and media executive Gautam Rangarajan as an Expert Adviser on Structure and Process, bringing him into the centre of the UK government’s planned administrative transformation.
Rangarajan, who previously worked as a strategist at the BBC, is taking up the newly created position at 10 Downing Street this week. The Prime Minister’s Office said he brings extensive experience in corporate strategy and organisational transformation.
The appointment comes as Burnham moves to reshape the structure of government after taking office as Labour Party leader and prime minister last month. One of his early initiatives has been the establishment of No. 10 North in Manchester, which is intended to underline his commitment to greater devolution and a stronger regional focus.
The new adviser is expected to play a role in supporting changes at the centre of government, although Downing Street has not yet provided detailed information about his specific responsibilities.
Burnham has already introduced several structural changes across Whitehall. The Department for Business and Trade has been given a broader remit and renamed the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
The government has also created the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC), led by Cabinet Office Minister Louise Haigh and Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo. The new office is intended to bring together No. 10, No. 10 North and Cabinet Office teams working directly with the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Baroness Angela Smith, Leader of the House of Lords, told Parliament last month that the restructuring was aimed at ensuring the centre of government remained focused on the administration’s key strategic priorities.
Rangarajan brings more than 20 years of experience spanning media, creative industries and public service broadcasting. His professional background includes strategy development, large scale organisational change, business transformation and negotiations involving government bodies and regulators.
He has also worked across rapidly changing media and technology markets, with experience in managing complex operational and financial challenges while developing new approaches to audience engagement.
Alongside his corporate and media career, Rangarajan has maintained a strong connection with music. He describes himself as a professional choral singer and music producer and has highlighted his interest in using creative industries to generate wider social and economic impact.
His appointment comes during Parliament’s summer recess, when Burnham has embarked on a nationwide tour promoting a series of measures described as “everyday fixes” aimed at addressing pressures faced by households amid the rising cost of living.
The Prime Minister has also been dealing with the impact of an extreme heatwave across the UK. On Wednesday, he chaired an emergency COBRA meeting as wildfires and drought conditions affected several parts of the country.
Burnham urged the public to exercise maximum caution while visiting rural areas, particularly warning against activities that could trigger fires. He specifically highlighted the risks posed by discarded cigarettes and temporary barbecues.
Rangarajan’s appointment is therefore being viewed as part of a broader effort to strengthen the machinery of government as Burnham seeks to introduce a different style of administration and place greater emphasis on strategy, transformation and regional governance.
