The Chancellor’s election is currently underway at Oxford University, one of the world’s leading institutions. Among the 38 finalists for this prestigious role are several candidates of Indian origin, with Ankur Shiv Bhandari emerging as a prominent contender. Bhandari holds the distinction of being the first Indian-origin mayor of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire. Other notable candidates include international entrepreneur Professor Nirpal Singh Paul Bhangal and medical specialist Pratik Tarwadi.
Ankur Shiv Bhandari, born in Faridabad, Haryana, has an impressive educational background. He began his schooling at St. Anthony Secondary School and DAV Public School in Faridabad before earning a graduate degree in Business Studies from the College of Business Studies (now known as Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies) at Delhi University. In 2001, he moved to the UK to pursue an MBA at the Leicester Business School of DeMontfort University, later completing a postgraduate degree in teaching and a master’s in law.
Bhandari is a successful entrepreneur specializing in shopper marketing and digital training. His career includes senior positions at multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble, Accenture, and WPP. He is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketers in London, with professional experience spanning over 50 countries. Bhandari has resided in Bracknell for the past 17 years with his wife and two children.
The Chancellor position is honorary and carries no financial remuneration. Lord Patten, who has served in this capacity for 21 years, will retire at the end of Trinity Term 2024. The new Chancellor will be elected by university staff and graduates through an online voting process. This selection is not only a key aspect of Oxford University’s traditions but also crucial in shaping the academic and global future of this esteemed institution.
