Cranbrook School is proud to announce that Vijay Rangarajan, an Old Cranbrookian, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the UK Electoral Commission. Vijay, who started his new role in March, brings a wealth of experience from his previous position as Director General at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), where he worked on issues related to climate, energy, global health and international development.

Vijay's distinguished career includes serving as the British Ambassador to Brazil and contributing to electoral reforms in the UK. Notably, he led the programme to establish individual electoral registration while at the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet Office, emphasising political and constitutional reforms.

John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission, expressed his enthusiasm for Vijay’s appointment, highlighting his deep understanding of elections and his passion for democracy. This leadership change comes as the Commission gears up for significant electoral events, including the general election. Vijay will oversee the implementation of recent changes introduced by the Elections Act, such as voter ID requirements and new voting rights for overseas voters.

Vijay's innovative approach, as demonstrated during his tenure at the FCDO, includes the successful digital coordination of logistics for large international events and the pioneering of the UK government’s first secure cloud-to-cloud migration. His commitment to using technology and data to enhance organisational efficiency and responsiveness is expected to benefit the Electoral Commission significantly.