LONDON (TIP): Indian-origin business and industry veteran Vindi Banga has been appointed as Chair of the UK Government Investments (UKGI), the government’s center of expertise in corporate finance and governance and an arm’s length body of the Treasury department.

Banga, 66, currently Chair at Marie Curie and a senior non-executive director (NED) at GlaxoSmithKline, will take over the prestigious role from September, the Treasury said on Monday.

Banga, also a NED at The Economist Group and Partner of private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), has 33 years of experience at Unilever, where his last role was President of the Global Foods, Home and Personal Care businesses, and on the Unilever Executive Board.

“His extensive leadership experience will be a great asset for guiding the UKGI board in the coming years,” said John Glen, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, who made the formal appointment.

“UKGI provides invaluable advice and support to the government on corporate governance and corporate finance, and Vindi’s appointment will ensure this continues,” he said.

Banga will take over at the agency, which oversees taxpayer interests in state-owned entities of the country, following a handover with incumbent chairman Robert Swannell CBE.

Charles Donald, CEO of UKGI, said: “Vindi joins UKGI with a wealth of experience from his previous and current positions. I am particularly pleased that someone who embodies our ambitious diversity and inclusion agenda and is passionate about helping me to build on the progress made to date will lead this critical organization.

“I very much look forward to working with Vindi in his new role as we continue to deliver on our objectives over the next year and beyond.”

The appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Public appointments (OCPA) and is made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the UK Cabinet Office.

The Chair is appointed based on merit and, in accordance with the code, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity, if any declared, to be made public. Banga did not declare any such political activity, the Treasury said.

The UKGI provides expert advice and proposes solutions that inform and translate government decisions into outcomes. It acts as a shareholder for and leads the establishment of other UK government arm’s length bodies; advises on all major UK government corporate finance matters, including financial interventions into corporate structures and corporate finance negotiations; analyses and advises on the UK government’s contingent liabilities; and acquires, manages and executes the sale of all significant UK government corporate assets.

The UKGI is owned by Her Majesty’s (HM) Treasury and independently managed with a Board, comprised predominantly of independent NEDs. It works closely with both the private and public sectors, advising and interacting with ministers, Parliament and civil service departments.