In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, when Khan indicated that he believed Britain was better off in the European Union but accepted the vote of the people, Agrawal joins the likes of Val Shawcross, Andrew Adonis and James Murray as senior leaders. Agrawal is the founder and CEO of international money transfer service Xendpay and online foreign exchange service RationalFX. Writing for Real Business in March, regarding why the often troubled relationship between business and politics is a vital one, he said: “The mutually beneficial relationship is essential for economic growth, prosperity and stability. But though business can advise, it must not govern. Ultimate responsibility for a policy decision lies with politicians, of whom should take the advice of all stakeholders in society to reach a decision that will benefit the country as a whole.”
Khan wants Agrawal to “champion” London’s interests following the EU referendum result and protects jobs and growth while exit negotiations go on. “Having arrived in London equipped with the ambition to succeed, Rajesh has created a multi-million pound business from scratch and knows first-hand the challenges that our business leaders face, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur,” Khan said. “I know that Rajesh is the best person for the job of protecting jobs and growth in London as we deal with the fallout of the referendum.” City Hall has confirmed that Agrawal will step down from his CEO duties to become the full-time deputy mayor for business. When Khan beat off competition from Zac Goldsmith to become London’s third mayor, the business community responded well. Business leader James Peck, UK country manager at Jobandtalent, believed it was “extremely positive” to see the new London mayor introduce a Business Advisory Board with SME representatives to support small businesses and protect working spaces.
Commenting on his appointment, Agrawal said: “I stepped on a plane for the first time 15 years ago to make the journey to London, and found a city that welcomed me with open arms and didn’t make me feel like a stranger. This openness to talent and enterprise must not change as a result of the referendum. “The mayor and I are determined to build a coalition that ensures the needs of business and financial services are at the fore over the coming months of negotiations with the EU. My first priority will be to listen and engage with businesses, to hear their concerns and deliver reassurance.”
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.