Rishi Sunak on Microsoft
TL;DR
Rishi Sunak serves as a paid, part-time senior advisor to Microsoft, focusing on macro-economic and geopolitical technology trends.
Key Points
He took up a paid senior advisor role with Microsoft after leaving his role as Prime Minister in July 2024.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) imposed conditions, including a two-year ban on lobbying the UK government on Microsoft's behalf.
During his time in office, he announced a £2.5 billion investment from Microsoft into UK AI infrastructure at the November 2023 AI Safety Summit.
Summary
Rishi Sunak accepted a paid, part-time role as a Senior Advisor with the US technology company Microsoft Corporation following his tenure as Prime Minister. This appointment, which requires him to provide high-level strategic perspectives on macro-economic and geopolitical trends intersecting with technology, was approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba). Microsoft is a strategic supplier to the UK government, holding significant contracts, and has committed substantial investment to UK AI infrastructure, including a recently pledged £22 billion.
His predecessor in office had significant engagement with the tech sector, championing initiatives such as hosting the AI Safety Summit and establishing the AI Safety Institute, with Microsoft participating in these discussions. Acoba imposed strict conditions on the role for two years, including prohibiting him from lobbying the UK government or advising on UK policy or government contracts to mitigate perceived conflicts of interest arising from his former position. The former Prime Minister stated he will not personally profit, diverting his salary from the role into his charity, The Richmond Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rishi Sunak currently holds a paid, part-time role as a Senior Advisor at Microsoft Corporation. In this capacity, he provides strategic perspectives on macro-economic and geopolitical trends related to technology. He is restricted from advising on specific UK policy matters due to post-government employment rules.
His current position is an advisory role taken after leaving office, which aligns with his prior focus on AI and technology investment as Prime Minister. While the role is new, his stated belief that technology is transformative remains consistent. His involvement is governed by strict ethical guidelines preventing direct influence on current UK government policy or contracts.
The role is subject to conditions set by Acoba to prevent conflicts of interest, notably a two-year restriction against lobbying the UK government for Microsoft. Furthermore, he confirmed that he will not personally benefit from the role, as all earnings will be donated to charity.
Sources5
Advice Letter: Rishi Sunak, Senior Advisor, Microsoft Corporation
Rishi Sunak takes advisory roles with Microsoft and AI firm Anthropic
Microsoft AI Tour London: Frontier firms show others how it's done
Why Are Microsoft & Anthropic Hiring Former PM Rishi Sunak?
Why did Microsoft and Anthropic Bring Rishi Sunak Onboard?
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.