After serving as the Prime Minister of UK last term, Rishi Sunak has now announced his entry into the technology sector, taking on senior advisory roles with two of the world’s leading tech firms – US giant Microsoft and prominent AI startup Anthropic. The announcement follows Sunak’s defeat in the general election last July, after which he stepped down as the leader of the Conservative Party. He continues to serve as a Member of the British Parliament.
Sunak’s role at both the tech companies will focus on providing strategic perspectives on broad macroeconomic and geopolitical trends. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which oversees new jobs for former UK ministers, confirmed that the roles are fully compliant with regulatory conditions.
This includes prohibiting Sunak from initiating contact with the UK government on behalf of either firm or advising on UK-specific policy matters. Furthermore, the former prime minister is barred from lobbying for the firms for two years from his last day in the office as a Minister.
Rishi Sunak is now an advisor for Microsoft, Anthropic
Anthropic, which is backed by Amazon and Google, has onboarded Sunak and made his role as an internally focused, partly focusing on global strategic matters.
On the other hand, Microsoft confirmed that Sunak will be a keynote speaker at its annual Microsoft Summit, leveraging his experience to provide strategic perspectives.
In a move addressing transparency and public service, Sunak stated in a LinkedIn post that the financial proceeds from both new advisory roles will be entirely dedicated to charity.
The former Prime Minister stated, “The proceeds from the roles will be donated in full to The Richmond Project, a charity he started with his wife Akshata Murty.”
This development comes after Mr. Sunak’s earlier return to his financial roots, having taken on an advisory role with investment bank Goldman Sachs in July. Sunak previously worked as an analyst at the Wall Street bank early in his career before moving to hedge funds.
Neither Microsoft nor Anthropic have reached out for comment.
Will Sunak’s entry have any effect on Microsoft and Anthropic’s AI game?
Having the ex-PM of UK on board as an advisor could certainly help a giant like Microsoft navigate these tricky economic situations amid a global uncertainty, full of mass layoffs.
As far as Athropic is concerned, Sunak’s expertise will help the AI firm grow smartly in an era when others have rapidly went on hiring spree and expansion to stay ahead in the AI race.
