Rishi Sunak Returns To Goldman Sachs As Senior Adviser, Pledges Salary To Charity.
Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is embarking on a new chapter, rejoining Goldman Sachs as a senior adviser, marking a return to the investment bank where he launched his career over two decades ago. The announcement, made on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, highlights Sunak’s transition back to the financial sector after a high-profile tenure in British politics, including serving as Prime Minister from October 2022 to July 2024. In a notable gesture, Sunak has pledged to donate his earnings from this role to the Richmond Project, an education charity he co-founded with his wife, Akshata Murty, to improve numeracy skills among children and young people in England.
Sunak, who remains the Conservative MP for Richmond and Northallerton, will leverage his extensive experience in global politics and economics to advise Goldman Sachs’ leadership and international clients on macroeconomic and geopolitical issues. His return to the Wall Street giant, where he worked as a summer intern in 2000 and later as an analyst from 2001 to 2004, was warmly welcomed by Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon. “I am excited to welcome Rishi back to Goldman Sachs in his new capacity as a senior adviser,” Solomon said in a statement. “He will work closely with our executives to advise clients on geopolitical and economic issues and contribute to our culture of learning and development.”
The appointment, Sunak’s first major professional role since stepping down as Conservative Party leader following the party’s significant defeat in the July 2024 general election, has been carefully vetted to ensure ethical compliance. The UK’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which oversees post-government roles for former ministers, approved the position with strict conditions to mitigate potential conflicts of interest. Sunak is barred from lobbying the UK government, advising foreign governments or their sovereign wealth funds, or working with clients he directly engaged with during his time as Prime Minister. Additionally, he is prohibited from using any privileged information gained during his ministerial tenure. Acoba emphasized that these stipulations aim to “protect the integrity of the government” while acknowledging Sunak’s 14-year background in financial services prior to his political career.
Sunak’s decision to donate his Goldman Sachs salary to the Richmond Project has drawn praise, reflecting his commitment to social good. The charity, established earlier this year, focuses on enhancing mathematics and numeracy education, a cause Sunak championed during his time as Prime Minister. “This is a meaningful way to give back,” Sunak noted, emphasizing the importance of equipping young people with essential skills for the future.
In addition to his new role at Goldman Sachs, Sunak has taken on academic positions since leaving Downing Street. In January 2025, he joined the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University and the Hoover Institution at Stanford University as an unpaid fellow, further showcasing his dedication to public service and education. He has also earned over £500,000 from three speaking engagements since April 2025, a common path for former prime ministers transitioning to private life.
Sunak’s return to Goldman Sachs has sparked varied reactions. Supporters view it as a natural fit, given his financial expertise and prior experience at the firm, as well as his roles at hedge funds TCI and Theleme Partners before entering politics in 2015. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the potential for undue influence, with Acoba noting that Goldman Sachs’ interest in UK government policy could create perceptions of unfair access. To address these concerns, the committee imposed a two-year restriction on Sunak engaging with the UK government in his advisory capacity.
Social media has also buzzed with commentary, with some users humorously referencing Sunak’s father-in-law, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and his advocacy for 70-hour workweeks. “Will Rishi Sunak work 70 hours a week?” one X post quipped, while others marveled at the former Prime Minister’s LinkedIn profile now boasting “Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
Sunak’s career trajectory—from a young banker to Britain’s first Prime Minister of Indian descent, and now back to the financial world—underscores the interplay between finance and governance in modern leadership. As he balances his new advisory role, academic commitments, and ongoing service as an MP, Sunak continues to shape his legacy both in and beyond politics.
