Former UK PM Bags Key Role in Tech Giant Microsoft

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been appointed as a Senior Advisor to Microsoft, marking another major move in his post-political career. The appointment was confirmed by the UK’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which also approved his similar role with the AI firm Anthropic.

Sunak’s role at Microsoft will be part-time and focused on providing advice on global strategy, economics, and technology policy. He will also attend key company events such as the Microsoft Summit. Importantly, all the money he earns from this position will be donated to The Richmond Project, a charity he co-founded with his wife Akshata Murty.

To avoid any conflict of interest, Sunak is barred from lobbying the UK government or using any inside information he gained during his time as Prime Minister. He also cannot advise Microsoft on UK government policies for two years.

This appointment reflects Sunak’s growing focus on the tech and AI sector. During his time as Prime Minister, he hosted the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park and supported large investments from tech companies like Microsoft in the UK. His new role shows his continued interest in how technology shapes global business and governance.

However, the decision has also attracted mixed reactions. Supporters believe Sunak’s global experience will help Microsoft navigate political and economic challenges. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the “revolving door” between politics and big corporations, especially since Microsoft has government contracts in the UK.

With this new advisory role, alongside his work with Anthropic and Goldman Sachs, Rishi Sunak seems to be looking out for a new identity as a global advisor in technology and finance, focusing on innovation, ethics and the digital future.