Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejoined Goldman Sachs as a senior advisor, marking a notable return to the global investment bank where he began his career over two decades ago. The appointment, announced by Goldman Sachs this week, will see Sunak offer clients his “unique insights” into global politics and economic trends.
Sunak, who stepped down as Prime Minister in July 2024 following the Conservative Party’s historic electoral defeat, continues to serve as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire.
This part-time role is unpaid; instead, Sunak has chosen to direct his salary to The Richmond Project, a charity he and his wife, Akshata Murty, founded in early 2025 to improve numeracy skills across the UK.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon welcomed Sunak back to the firm, saying, “We’re excited to have Rishi return. His global experience in government and finance brings a valuable perspective to our clients and our teams. In addition to advising clients, he will engage with employees worldwide to support leadership development and learning initiatives.”
Sunak’s appointment was reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), the UK watchdog that oversees the transition of public officials into private sector roles. While Acoba acknowledged Sunak’s extensive background in finance—including co-founding an international investment firm prior to his political career—it flagged potential risks related to privileged information he may have acquired during his premiership.
To mitigate conflicts of interest, Acoba imposed several restrictions on Sunak. He is barred from:
Advising any foreign governments or sovereign wealth funds,
Working with clients he had direct dealings with as Prime Minister, and
Lobbying the UK government on behalf of Goldman Sachs.
Sunak’s connection to Goldman Sachs dates back to 2000, when he joined the firm as an intern. He later served as an analyst from 2001 to 2004 before transitioning into politics. He was elected to Parliament in 2015 and rose to prominence as Chancellor of the Exchequer during the COVID-19 pandemic under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His resignation in July 2022 contributed significantly to Johnson’s departure, and Sunak went on to become Prime Minister in October 2022, following Liz Truss’s short tenure.
Since leaving office, Sunak has taken up several academic and public policy roles. In January 2025, he was appointed a fellow at both Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government and Stanford University’s Hoover Institution—positions for which he is not compensated. He has also earned over £500,000 from a handful of high-profile speaking engagements, a common post-office path for former world leaders.
Sunak’s return to Goldman Sachs adds a significant corporate dimension to his post-Downing Street career, underscoring his enduring ties to the financial world and his growing influence beyond the realm of UK politics.
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