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Dhruv Patel is first Indian-origin chairman of key London grant body
The corporation is the governing body of the City of London, the historic financial district spread over a square mile that is home to the Bank of England, stock exchange and a large number of global banks and insurance companies.
Dhruv Patel, who has interests in insurance, pharmacy and property, has become the first Indian-origin chairman of London’s largest independent grant giver after his election to the City of London Corporation’s key committee.
The corporation is the governing body of the City of London, the historic financial district spread over a square mile that is home to the Bank of England, stock exchange and a large number of global banks and insurance companies.
Patel, an elected member of the corporation since 2013, was elected chairman of the City Bridge Trust Committee, replacing Alison Gowman. The committee is the funding arm of the corporation’s charity, Bridge House Estates, making grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantaged communities across the capital.
Patel, 35, who founded the City Hindus Network, will lead the delivery of ‘Bridging Divides’, the committee’s five-year funding programme, which will see £100 million distributed to the capital’s charity organisations to help Londoners most in need.
Awarded an OBE in 2018 for voluntary service to the British Hindu community and to social cohesion, Patel said: “It is a great privilege to be in the leadership role of one of the UK’s most important supporters of civil society”.
“Together we will continue to help give all London’s communities the opportunity to thrive, and give young people, in particular, the best possible start in life.”
The City Bridge Trust has awarded nearly 8,000 grants totalling over £400 million since 1995.
