Endorsers

It has been a pleasure to know John for the best part of twenty years, who was a strong supporter of Cambridge during my time as vice-chancellor.

John is a man for me of very high integrity. He’s never been frightened to take on the establishment. When he’s in a minority but believes he has the right values around a particular issue, he’s not frightened to take on and to bring those issues to the forefront. It’s something I really admire in him and, at times, is something we see other people not being prepared to take that forward step.

John understands universities. He understands where higher education is going. He has a seat at very major tables of influence, which are going to be critical in what is going to be, it appears, a very difficult time for universities. I believe, in many ways, John is an ideal candidate for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge, and I am privileged and pleased to endorse him.

I am endorsing my friend, John Browne, for the Chancellorship.

I have known him for many years. We have served together on science funding committees and science thinking committees. He has deep insight into science and the way science works in the UK, after all he is the co-chair of the Prime Minister’s Science and Technology committee.

So, he comes to the chancellorship both with fresh ideas, and someone who is totally grounded in Cambridge.

Not only is John a great scientist, but he also is a great supporter of the arts and humanities. You only need to look at the institutions he helps, from the Tate and the Courtauld to the Donmar Warehouse to see how much he cares about the arts.

We need this mix of excellent science but a sympathy and support for the arts and humanities, too.

John Browne’s personal qualities and distinguished achievements align superbly with the responsibilities and expectations of the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.  He is an exemplar for the life-changing opportunities a Cambridge education unlocks, regardless of personal circumstance or obstacles to be overcome, and he has in turn increased opportunities for countless others to study and research here, throughout his career remaining a great advocate for the University’s national and international significance, chairing the Judge Business School and actively encouraging philanthropic support for the collegiate University.

To be an effective Chancellor is to put oneself at the service of the University.  John has embraced public service for decades, today sitting on the boards of arts powerhouses like Tate and the British Museum, chairing the Francis Crick Institute and co-chairing the Prime Minister’s Council on Science and Technology.   It would be a distinction and a great asset for this University at this time to have as Chancellor a Fellow of the Royal Society and Past President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, someone equally fluent and compelling in the cultural conversation, politically astute and experienced in navigating Whitehall and Westminster.

I support John’s candidacy to be Chancellor because he will be relentless in championing the University, defending academic freedom, and above all deploying his rare expertise to bring people, institutions and ideas together, quietly and effectively, to spark innovation, overcome barriers and make things happen.   At a time of immense and accelerating –  but sometimes fragile –  opportunity for our greatest global universities, his wisdom, presence and effectiveness would serve Cambridge well.

John Browne has Cambridge driven through his being like the letters in Blackpool rock. Brought up here, educated here, and now come back here as one of the university’s most important supporters.

John has travelled the world in his stellar career and travelled to the depth of his soul in his personal and public journey. He would bring his learnings from both to help Cambridge reach students wondering if this is a place which welcomes people of difference and leading figures who want to make a difference. 

John has been a huge supporter of women at Cambridge. He gave Murray Edwards College a beautiful building in the name of his mother. Paula Browne House has transformed the fortunes of our college and the opportunities we can offer students.  John continues to support women at our college with generous bursaries.

So many successful Cambridge alumnae from the colleges with generous endowments give just to their college. John has given to us, a less well-off college, donations which have transformed Murray Edwards.

I am delighted to support the candidacy of Lord John Browne as the next Chancellor of Cambridge University. Having known and worked with John for many years, I can testify to his outstanding array of talents and experiences that will help steer the university through the next era. His strategic and international perspectives, his willingness to question the status quo, and his belief in the power of education and intellectual development to overcome individual and societal challenges will all be essential qualities at a time of unprecedented academic and global upheaval.

John Browne and I have known each other since the day we matriculated at St John’s in October 1966. We became and have remained the firmest of friends.

John is a man of quiet yet intense loyalties not just to his friends but also to his college and his university. I have always thought that Cambridge was central to the shaping of John as a thinker and a doer. It has given him a state of mind that embraces a feel for learning, research and the dissemination of knowledge and the application of reason which together exert a powerful multiplier effect across society as a whole.

If elected, I am confident that John will shine as a chancellor – especially for the tough times through which we are living. He understands the careful blending of ancient and modern that gives Cambridge its energy. And he possesses the characteristic that is as life-enhancing as it is contagious – hope.

Very pleased to support Lord John Browne for Chancellor of Cambridge. His vision and leadership are unparalleled. This is why I am supporting him.

John’s commitment to research excellence and global collaboration aligns with everything I’ve worked toward in my career.

His understanding of innovation, inclusion, and the role of universities in solving real-world problems makes him an outstanding candidate for Chancellor.

I wholeheartedly endorse his vision for Cambridge.

As someone who has championed the creative industries and higher education, I see in John a leader who understands the cultural and intellectual power of universities.  

His campaign for Chancellor of Cambridge is about opening doors, embracing change, and celebrating excellence. I’m delighted to support him.

Having worked with John at the intersection of energy, policy, and academia, I know the value of visionary leadership.

His campaign for Chancellor of Cambridge speaks to the future of global education—one that is inclusive, ambitious, and deeply connected to the world’s challenges. As a Trinity College alumnus and former chair of the Cambridge Centre for Energy Studies, I’m proud to support him.

Lord Browne would bring a wealth of experience and insight to the role of Chancellor. At a challenging time for universities everywhere, Cambridge needs the kind of leadership John can bring to the role.

I am proud to endorse my partner and fellow alumnus John Browne in his candidacy for the Chancellorship of the University of Cambridge. John exemplifies Cambridge’s values and would serve as a distinguished global ambassador. His contributions to global business, dedication to societal advancement, and conviction in education would uphold and advance Cambridge’s legacy of excellence.

John’s vision for Cambridge is rooted in excellence, openness, and service. Having seen the dedication and wisdom he has brought to his leadership in the arts, engineering, industry and public life, I have no doubt that he is the best person to serve and guide our ancient, world-leading University as it embarks on its next chapter. I’m honoured to support his candidacy.

As Chancellor, John Browne would bring an external view and a track record of leadership in business, the public sector and charities. The range of his public service is impressive spanning the arts, sciences and engineering. The breadth of his experience gives him the understanding and the international network to be a helpful and supportive Chancellor.

The chancellor here doesn’t run the university but, if they want to, they can have a very important, influential role, and I think John would do that brilliantly. 

 When at BP, he decided to set up a research institute here, which was funded through BP. I was deeply involved. He didn’t try to keep any sort of control over what it did. He had a real respect and liking for the academic way of doing things and saw quite how important this was. BP kept no control at all – we even had difficulty in persuading him to have a say in who we appointed to the institute. This hands-off attitude would be brilliant in a chancellor. He has a real sympathy and understanding of academic ways and live, and I think that would be just excellent. The fact that he would understand an organisation like Cambridge, which is not as unlike BP as it seems, I think he would do an excellent job.

Lord Browne is committed to upholding the University’s defining values of freedom of expression and intellectual inquiry. A longstanding champion of the arts and humanities (not least as Chair of the Courtauld Institute of Art) as well as STEM subjects, he will bring breadth, integrity and empathy to the Chancellorship.

It is a privilege to endorse my partner and friend, John Browne, for the role of Chancellor of his alma mater, the University of Cambridge. I believe John would uphold the University’s legacy and values while championing its ambitious vision for the future. At General Atlantic, we have deep admiration for John’s global leadership experience and lifelong commitment to education.

To all of my interested network and those at the University of Cambridge I want to endorse my business partner and friend John Browne as the right choice for the role of Chancellor in the upcoming elections.  
John and I have known each other for many years and most recently John served on my board at IHS Markit and helped me navigate the complexities of its merger with S&P Global This was complex and required clear thinking and a thoughtful approach. John has both of these traits in depth. In addition John has taught me to have strong values, and integrity front and centre. These are inportant to this decision that you are about to work.  
 
I also know John loves Cambridge and calls it home. I am currently working with John at BeyondNetZero the General Atlantic climate fund. Here we focus on sustainability and the focus is emissions reduction. Johns passion shines through strategically and his relationships and knowledge give us a competitive edge.  
 
I know John would be an excellent chancellor and I completely endorse.

Throughout his long and illustrious career, John has demonstrated that he has to a remarkable degree each of the four most important attributes of a Chancellor of a great university: penetrating clarity of vision; unimpeachable integrity; the capacity to drive through delivery, and close relations with potential supporters and donors in very many countries of the world. He would be the perfect choice.

Delighted to hear that Lord John Browne is one of the candidates for the next Chancellor of University of Cambridge. John is such a champion and nurturer of next gen talent and has his finger on the pulse on the rapid pace in the development of new technologies. On top of this, he’s a keen lover and supporter of the arts, he’ll make an incredible Chancellor. Good luck John!

John’s unwavering devotion to inclusion, free speech, academic freedom, LGBT+ rights, and fact-based analysis positions him uniquely to lead Cambridge during this turbulent global era. Having witnessed first-hand his dedication to these values, and knowing his track record in leading global-facing institutions during uncertain times, I wholeheartedly endorse Lord John Browne’s candidacy for Chancellor of Cambridge University.

I’m proud to support Lord Browne’s candidacy to be the next Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. As a Cambridge graduate, I care deeply about the future of the university. And as a Trustee of the John Browne Charitable Trust, I’ve seen first-hand the impact of John’s leadership. He is the most impressive Board chair I’ve worked with – principled, strategic, and committed to creating opportunity for all. I’ll never forget witnessing the impact of John’s support for scholarships at Murray Edwards College. The Paula Browne Scholarships, named in honour of his mother – a Holocaust survivor who made her first home in Cambridge – give the opportunity of a Cambridge education to women who might not otherwise have it.

With a career spanning business, science, the arts and public service, John brings a rare combination of independence, vision, and the ability to connect Cambridge with the wider world. He would be an outstanding Chancellor.