Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, as a trustee at one of Britain’s most renowned museums.
Murty was confirmed by the Prime Minister as one of six new trustees at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
Announcing her appointment, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport expressed hope that her background in business and experience at No. 10 would benefit the role.
A spokesperson stated, “Akshata is deeply committed to education and believes in the transformative power of creativity for young people.”
Alongside her husband, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Murty co-founded The Richmond Project, a charity focused on breaking down barriers to numeracy and promoting social mobility. She is also a strong advocate for the UK’s veteran community.
As a trustee, Murty will be responsible for overseeing and promoting the museum’s work, as well as assisting in the selection of chairpersons to manage its daily operations.
With an estimated combined net worth of £651 million, she will oversee Tristram Hunt, the current V&A chairman, who has been an outspoken proponent of returning disputed artefacts to their countries of origin.
In 2023, The Telegraph reported that the museum was among those whose Indian collections were being considered for repatriation by Indian government officials.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been working toward the return of artefacts taken by British soldiers and collectors.
Murty’s mother, Sudha, was appointed to the Indian parliament by Modi in 2024. She is married to Narayana Murthy, the billionaire chairman of the tech giant Infosys.
Murty’s appointment helps fill positions left vacant by V&A trustees who have completed their four-year terms.
Other newly appointed V&A trustees include Nigel Newton, CEO of Bloomsbury Publishing, Pedro Pina, a YouTube vice president, and Andrew Keith, a seasoned retail executive.
Also selected by Sir Keir Starmer are broadcaster and author Mariella Frostrup, as well as television presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Vick Hope.
Like Akshata Murty, all trustees must go through an official application process before their appointments are formally approved by the serving prime minister.
The Sunaks are now believed to be dividing their time between the UK and the US. In January, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced he would be taking on a visiting fellowship at Stanford University, along with a position at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir has also signed off on several new appointments at the British Museum in London.
Among its newly appointed trustees are The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman, BBC Radio 4’s The World at One host Martha Kearney, and historian Tom Holland.
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