Vijay Rangarajan
Dr Francis Vijay Rangarajan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom) | |
| Assumed office March 2024 | |
| British Ambassador to Brazil | |
| In office June 2017 – August 2020 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Theresa May Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Alex Ellis |
| Succeeded by | Peter Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 September 1969 New Delhi, India |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Selwyn College, Cambridge |
Dr Francis Vijay Rangarajan CMG (born 22 September 1969)[1] is the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission.[2] His appointment was announced on 30 January 2024, and he took up the post at the beginning of March 2024.[3] He previously served as the British Ambassador to Brazil from May 2017 to August 2020.[4]
Early life and education
Rangarajan was born in New Delhi, India to L.N. Rangarajan, an Indian diplomat from Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, who translated the Arthashastra, and Joyce Millward, a British singer from Bolton, Lancashire, who featured in the 1963 premiere of Our Man in Havana.
He was educated at Cranbrook School and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in natural sciences in 1990, a Masters degree in maths, and a PhD in Astrophysics in 1995.[1][5]
Career
Rangarajan worked in the British Representation in Brussels on trade policy and political affairs, later leading the Justice and Home Affairs section, covering immigration, asylum, data sharing, counter-terrorism, civil and criminal law. From 2003 to 2006 he served as the Deputy British Ambassador to Mexico.[5]
He worked in the Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office on political and constitutional reform of the UK: running elections, Parliament and the development of devolution in the UK. This involved establishing the UK Supreme Court and the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and the reform of electoral registration.
He then set up the FCO’s Multilateral Policy Directorate, responsible for the UN, Council of Europe, Commonwealth, OSCE, and work on international human rights and conflict issues. He also negotiated major changes to the European Convention on Human Rights.
He was Europe Director, responsible for work on the UK EU referendum, associated negotiations, and wider EU policy such as on energy, social security and foreign policy.
From May 2017 to August 2020 he was the British Ambassador to Brazil.[4]
He was a Director General at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) from 2020 to 2024, responsible for global health (during the COVID-19 pandemic), climate change and energy (at COP26, 27 and 28), and equalities and education. His geographical role initially focused on the Americas and Overseas Territories, and later on the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, North Africa, India and China.
Prior to working for the FCDO, Rangarajan worked for the UK's Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office, focusing on political and constitutional reform.[5]
Rangarajan has been a Trustee of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance since October 2023[6], and a Trustee of Sightsavers since July 2026.[7]
Awards and honours
He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2015 Birthday Honours.[8]
References
- 1 2 "RANGARAJAN, (Francis) Vijay (Narasimhan)". Who's Who. Vol. 2021 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ "Our Executive Team". The Electoral Commission. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ↑ "Electoral Commission appoints new Chief Executive". The Electoral Commission. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- 1 2 "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Brazil". Mirage News. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 "People – Vijay Rangarajan". HM Government. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ↑ "Board of Trustees - The Circular Bioeconomy Alliance". circularbioeconomyalliance.org. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Global board | How we're run | Sightsavers". Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ United Kingdom: "No. 61256". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2015. p. B4.