Rishi Sunak starts new chapter with Goldman Sachs after political exit

Rishi Sunak, the UK’s former Prime Minister, has officially returned to the private sector—this time as a senior advisor at Goldman Sachs, the global investment banking giant where he once began his career. The appointment signals a carefully considered post-political reinvention, bridging the worlds of high finance, governance, and philanthropy.

The US-based firm confirmed the move earlier this week, emphasising Sunak’s “valuable global perspective” and experience at the top of British politics. According to a statement from Goldman Sachs’ CEO David Solomon, Sunak will support the bank’s global clients and also engage with staff across international offices, contributing to professional development and organisational insight.

This new role is part-time, but highly symbolic. Sunak first worked at Goldman Sachs as an analyst in the early 2000s before rising rapidly through the financial sector and ultimately into frontline British politics. His re-entry into the firm underscores both a return to his roots and a pivot towards long-term global influence.

At just 44, Sunak is carving out a distinctive path rarely seen among former UK prime ministers. Unlike predecessors who often retreat from public life or stick to domestic advisory roles, Sunak appears set on building a multi-sectoral presence spanning academia, finance, and policy.

Since stepping down in July 2024 after leading the Conservative Party to a historic electoral defeat, Sunak has kept busy. He joined the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford and the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, both in unpaid positions focused on governance and public leadership. He has also earned over £500,000 through a series of speaking engagements, according to public disclosures.

Now, with this Goldman Sachs appointment, he adds global banking back into his professional portfolio. Notably, his salary from the role will be donated entirely to The Richmond Project, an educational non-profit he co-founded with his wife, Akshata Murty, earlier this year. The charity focuses on improving numeracy and basic skills across the UK—an area of personal interest for the former PM.

Sunak’s appointment was reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which evaluates roles taken by former ministers. The committee cleared the role, though it outlined specific restrictions: Sunak may not lobby the UK government on behalf of the bank, nor can he advise foreign governments, sovereign wealth funds, or any clients with whom he had official dealings during his time in office.

These limitations are designed to protect public interest and prevent any undue advantage being given to private firms due to former government access. Acoba also acknowledged Sunak’s significant pre-political experience—14 years in financial services, including roles in hedge funds and investment firms—as grounds for the suitability of the new position.

Sunak’s move is being closely watched, both for its strategic implications and its optics. Once hailed as the steady technocrat who guided Britain through the COVID-19 crisis with measures like the furlough scheme and “Eat Out to Help Out,” Sunak’s popularity dwindled during his short tenure as PM. He succeeded Liz Truss in October 2022, only to face a resounding electoral loss less than two years later.

Yet, by re-entering the finance world at a senior level, Sunak is arguably not stepping away from influence, but redirecting it. His proximity to economic policy, geopolitical shifts, and leadership under pressure are likely to appeal to Goldman Sachs’ high-profile clientele.

In an era where former world leaders increasingly transition into roles in tech, finance, and academia, Sunak’s trajectory reflects a broader trend—where political experience becomes a premium asset in global industries.