KARAN BILIMORIA - UK'S YOUNGEST UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR
(17 May 2005)

Karan Bilimoria, founder and CEO of Cobra Beer has become the UK's Youngest University Chancellor by accepting the Chancellorship of Thames Valley Univeristy (TVU). Mr Bilimoria follows the late Lord Hamlyn, the Lord Paul of Marylebone and Sir William Stubbs as the University's fourth Chancellor. Karan will be the UK's youngest Chancellor and only the third Asian to be appointed as Chancellor at a UK university.

Mr Dino Adriano, Chair of the Governing Body at TVU said 'In appointing the University's new Chancellor, the Governors were looking for an outstanding individual who could represent and inspire the extraordinarily diverse student body that makes TVU such a distinctive University. I am confident that in Karan Bilimoria we have someone exceptional who will not only be a real inspiration to the University community but who will also promote the interests of TVU with his renowned determination and flair'.

Chief Executive and founder of the immensely successful Cobra Beer company, Mr Bilimoria is recognised nationally and internationally as one of his generation's outstanding entrepreneurs. He has won no less than eleven major business awards, including being honoured last year as Business Person of the Year by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

As well as running one of Europe's fastest growing companies, Karan Bilimoria is tireless in his work fostering commercial and cultural relations between the UK and the Asian sub-continent, the promotion of entrepreneurship and the enterprise culture, as well as a wide range of charitable activities. Karan is a Government advisor, serving on the National Employment Panel, chairing its Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Board, and has recently been appointed a National Champion of the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship by Chancellor Gordon Brown. Karan is also one of the first Visiting Entrepreneurs at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, University of Cambridge.

Karan has been a Governor of TVU since 2001 and has supported a wide range of University activities with many staff and students benefiting from Karan's advice, support and inspiration. He was awarded the CBE in 2004.

Karan Bilimoria said on his installation as Chancellor, 'I am truly honoured to accept the Chancellorship of Thames Valley University - a University with which I am proud to have been associated for a number of years, particularly as a member of the Governing Body.

The University's commitment to providing learning opportunities to all those who can benefit, throughout their lives, regardless of their background is one I wholly support.

In seeking to ensure that students have the skills and knowledge to equip them to play a successful role in the workplace and make an active contribution to their communities, TVU performs a remarkable and invaluable function for the economy and people of West London and the Thames Valley. I look forward to being able to support the University's Chair of Governors, Vice Chancellor, staff and students in any way I can and be active in ensuring that the University obtains the recognition it deserves for the tremendous work it undertakes'.

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