Goldman Sachs has appointed former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a senior adviser, marking a high-profile return to the banking giant where he began his career over two decades ago.
The Wall Street firm announced the move on Tuesday, with Chief Executive David Solomon noting that Sunak would bring “unique perspectives and insights on the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape” to the firm’s global client base.
Sunak first joined Goldman Sachs as a summer intern in 2000, later working as an analyst between 2001 and 2004 before embarking on a career in politics that saw him rise to the top of the UK government.
His appointment highlights a well-trodden path for former policymakers entering the world of finance, where their expertise in regulation, international affairs, and economic policy is increasingly prized amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.
Sunak served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from February 2020 to July 2022, navigating the UK economy through the Covid-19 pandemic, before taking office as Prime Minister in October 2022.
He stood down in July 2024 following a landslide defeat of the Conservative Party by Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, and currently remains MP for Richmond and Northallerton.
His move mirrors that of other former Chancellors such as George Osborne, who joined BlackRock, and Sajid Javid, now a partner at Centricus.
With global financial institutions facing an increasingly complex and volatile political environment, Sunak’s insight is expected to strengthen Goldman Sachs’ strategic advisory capabilities at a critical time for the industry.
Discussion about this post