Rumi Verjee’s statement on joining House of Lords

“It is great honour to be asked to join the House of Lords. I look forward to working with my new colleagues and continuing to pursue the issues that have been important to me throughout my career; entrepreneurship, diversity, international development and helping young people – giving everyone an equal chance in life”

Rumi Verjee, a Ugandan Asian, is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist; businesses he created now employ over 20,000 people in the UK. After bringing Domino’s to the UK, Rumi also oversaw the development of the Brompton Hospital site. Rumi is the owner of the world-renowned china shop, Thomas Goode & Company, in Mayfair.

Born in 1957, Rumi attended Haileybury School and Downing College, Cambridge where he studied Law before he was called to the Bar from Middle Temple.

Rumi established The Rumi Foundation in 2006. The initiatives it supports are diverse, but all share the same goal of humanitarian work through, education, innovation and knowledge building. Amongst other programmes, the Foundation is working with The Clinton Foundation to provide new schools for 3000 children in Uganda. The Foundation recently helped launch the Canadian charity ‘Free the Children’ in the UK which is aimed at helping today’s youth become more active citizens in their local communities and globally.

Rumi was also a member of the British Olympic Association Advisory Board for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

In 2009 Rumi was awarded the CBE for services to charity.

An active Liberal Democrat for several years, Rumi has campaigned with the party and supports candidates across the UK through the party’s Leadership Programme for under-represented groups.

Related: Rumi Verjee made British peer