Rishi Sunak Takes Advisory Roles at Microsoft and Anthropic

Former UK Prime Minister joins two major tech firms in strategic advisory capacity, with all proceeds going to charity.

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced new advisory positions with Microsoft and AI company Anthropic, marking his continued engagement with the technology sector following his departure from frontline politics. The roles come several months after he stepped down as Conservative Party leader in July 2024, though he remains a sitting member of Parliament. Sunak revealed the appointments through a LinkedIn post on Thursday, emphasizing that all compensation from these positions will be donated to The Richmond Project, a charitable organization he founded with his wife, Akshata Murty. Both roles have been approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which oversees employment rules for former ministers.

Strategic Focus Without UK Policy Involvement

At Anthropic, the AI startup backed by Amazon and Google, Sunak will serve in an internally focused, part-time advisory capacity. His responsibilities include providing guidance on strategy, macroeconomic trends, and geopolitical developments affecting the company’s operations. The position explicitly focuses on global strategic matters rather than UK-specific policy issues. ACOBA’s approval comes with strict conditions, including a prohibition on Sunak initiating contact with UK government officials on Anthropic’s behalf.

Microsoft has engaged Sunak in a similar strategic advisory role, where he will offer perspectives on macroeconomic and geopolitical trends. He is scheduled to speak at the company’s annual Microsoft Summit, according to ACOBA documentation published on Thursday. Like his Anthropic role, the Microsoft position does not involve advising on UK policy matters. The interim chair of ACOBA, Isabel Doverty, outlined these restrictions in an official advice letter posted on the committee’s website.

Regulatory Restrictions and Career Trajectory

The ACOBA approval includes significant limitations on Sunak’s activities in both roles. He is prohibited from lobbying either company for a two-year period beginning from his last day in ministerial office. Additionally, he cannot leverage any privileged information obtained during his time in government. These restrictions reflect standard protocols designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure proper separation between public service and private sector work.

Sunak’s move into technology advisory follows his July 2024 return to Goldman Sachs in a similar capacity. The former prime minister previously worked as an analyst at the Wall Street investment bank in the early 2000s before transitioning to hedge fund roles. His career trajectory from finance to politics and back to advisory positions in both finance and technology reflects a pattern increasingly common among former senior politicians. Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the appointment.