Ex-UK Chancellor Osborne Joins OpenAI

The revolving doors at OpenAI are spinning once more as there is another recruitment change.
Former UK Chancellor George Osborne has officially joined OpenAI to spearhead the company’s global expansion efforts. The 54-year-old retired Conservative politician will become managing director of the firm’s ambitious “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, marking a dramatic career pivot that signals how AI is reshaping global politics and economics.
Osborne will assume his new London-based role next month, a BBC report confirms. The appointment comes as OpenAI aggressively pursues international partnerships, with the program designed to help governments build AI infrastructure and integrate AI into public services.
Major tech companies have been investing heavily in UK AI development, with Microsoft announcing a $30 billion infrastructure commitment and an additional $1 billion from companies like Nvidia and Google.
A ‘hire’ purpose
OpenAI’s decision to recruit Osborne represents a calculated move to bridge Silicon Valley innovation with European regulatory frameworks. The former Chancellor, who controlled the UK’s treasury from 2010 to 2016, brings unprecedented government experience to a company valued at approximately $750 billion.
Osborne expressed enthusiasm about joining what he described as “the most exciting and promising company in the world right now,” following conversations with CEO Sam Altman and COO Brad Lightcap, sources close to the matter indicate. The OpenAI for Countries initiative extends the company’s $500 billion “Stargate” data center project beyond American borders, with existing partnerships already established in Argentina, Australia, Germany, and South Korea.
Osborne will be very busy. Fintech firm Coinbase has just appointed him to chair its internal Global Advisory Council. Osborne, who originally joined Coinbase as an advisor in January 2024, will now lead the company’s global strategy and influence international policymakers.
On his X account, Osborne states he is also co-host of the Political Currency podcast, Chair of British Museum, and president of Northern Powerhouse Partnership. That said, he is stepping away from his investment banking position at Evercore.
Global AI politics
This appointment highlights how AI has evolved into critical national infrastructure, with early governance decisions poised to influence global economics and geopolitics for decades. OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane emphasized that the hire reflects “a shared belief that AI is becoming critical infrastructure,” with timing crucial for shaping how technology develops worldwide, Monday’s company statements reveal.
Osborne joins a growing trend of British political figures transitioning to major tech companies. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently accepted advisory roles with OpenAI rival Anthropic and Microsoft in October, while Nick Clegg concluded his seven-year tenure with Meta’s global affairs team earlier this year.
Changes all round
Osborne’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as OpenAI faces mounting challenges while pursuing aggressive global expansion. The company is currently defending multiple lawsuits from families whose children died by suicide after interacting with ChatGPT, including the family of 16-year-old Adam Raine who killed himself in April.
While Osborne arrives, others have left.
Hannah Wong, the executive who steered OpenAI through its most chaotic period, has announced she’s leaving the company.
Wong’s exit continues a troubling pattern that has plagued OpenAI throughout 2025.
Four months ago, co-founder John Schulman joined rival Anthropic while another co-founder Greg Brockman took a sabbatical. Then in September, Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati and two other research leaders announced departures, creating a significant brain drain from the company’s leadership ranks.
Tom Cunningham, an economics researcher, also left in September after growing frustrated with limits around publishing certain kinds of work.
OpenAI-backed Chai Discovery has secured $130 million in funding to boost how life-saving medicines are created.
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