Gautam Rangarajan, former Indian diplomat’s son and BBC exec appointed U.K. PM’s Adviser

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Gautam Rangarajan, the son of a former senior Indian diplomat, as an Expert Adviser on Structure and Process, as per a Downing Street announcement made earlier this week.

“Gautam brings significant experience in corporate strategy and transformation,” the statement said. Mr. Burnham, who was earlier the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has plans for a major restructuring of the the U.K. Government. He has vowed to take political power out of London and its bureaucratic heart — Whitehall — and distribute it across the regions. The new Prime Minister has also launched a hub-office, called ‘ No.10 North’ in Manchester.

Mr. Rangarajan’s new role could potentially involve helping restructure the U.K. Government along the lines of Mr. Burnham’s promises. He has over three decades of experience at the BBC, including as Group Director, Strategy and Performance. He was responsible for the BBC’s strategy for more than a decade, including overseeing its digital transformation. Mr. Rangarjan is also a singer and was earlier a music producer at the BBC.

Mr. Rangarajan’s late father, L. N. Rangarajan, who had roots in Kumbakonam, was a senior Indian diplomat and served as India’s Ambassador to Norway, Greece, Sudan, Tunisia, and Iceland. He also authored books, including a translation of Kautilya’s Arthashastra. His mother, Joyce Millward, was a musician from Lancashire. His brother, Vijay Rangarajan, is currently the Chief Executive of the U.K.’s Electoral Commission, having held other positions, including Director at the U.K. Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).