A quiet but consequential shift is unfolding at the intersection of politics and technology, as leading American tech companies increasingly turn to former British politicians to help guide their global ambitions. The latest example is former U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, whose recent appointments at OpenAI and Coinbase have reignited debate in Britain about the growing migration of political influence from Westminster to Silicon Valley.

Osborne’s move comes amid an intensifying global competition for talent in the technology sector. While much of the attention has focused on engineers and artificial intelligence researchers being poached by rival firms, companies are now aggressively recruiting senior political figures with the experience and networks needed to navigate regulation, diplomacy, and government partnerships as they scale.

Less than two weeks after Slack’s former chief executive Denise Dresser was named OpenAI’s chief revenue officer, Osborne announced that he would be joining the AI company in a senior leadership role. Almost simultaneously, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase confirmed that Osborne would also take on a more prominent position leading its internal advisory council. The twin announcements sparked widespread discussion in the U.K., where observers noted that Osborne is far from alone in making the leap from British politics to U.S. tech.

A former Conservative Member of Parliament, Osborne served as chancellor from 2010 to 2016, overseeing the U.K.’s economic policy during a turbulent period marked by post-financial-crisis recovery and controversial austerity measures. Following the Brexit referendum and David Cameron’s resignation, Osborne stepped away from frontline politics in 2017.

Since then, he has built a portfolio career that blends finance, media, and investment. Alongside a part-time advisory role at BlackRock, he served as editor of the Evening Standard from 2017 to 2020. He also co-founded venture capital firm 9yards Capital, whose portfolio has included companies such as Robinhood, Toast, and Coinbase—several of which have since gone public.

At OpenAI, Osborne will serve as managing director and head of “OpenAI for Countries,” operating from London. The initiative, launched in May 2025, focuses on partnerships with governments seeking to develop domestic data center capacity and adapt AI tools such as ChatGPT to local languages and cultures. According to OpenAI, the programme is an extension of its broader Stargate project, a $500 billion effort with partners Oracle and SoftBank to expand AI infrastructure while promoting what the company describes as “democratic AI rails.”

OpenAI executives have emphasized that Osborne’s appointment reflects the company’s view of artificial intelligence as critical infrastructure, with early policy decisions likely to shape global economics and geopolitics for decades. His political experience and international network are seen as assets as the company engages more directly with governments around the world.

Those same attributes also underpin his expanded role at Coinbase. The crypto exchange, which faces intense regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions, has been working to strengthen its engagement with policymakers. According to the company, Osborne will now play a more active role in those efforts, drawing on his background in public policy and financial regulation.

Osborne’s move fits a broader pattern. Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg spent more than six years as Meta’s global policy chief, while former prime minister Rishi Sunak has recently taken on advisory roles with Microsoft and AI firm Anthropic. Together, these appointments highlight a growing trend of U.K. political figures finding second careers at the highest levels of American technology firms.

The phenomenon has provoked mixed reactions. Critics argue that it blurs the line between public service and private gain, raising concerns about the “revolving door” between government and corporate power—particularly when former officials leverage their insider knowledge and contacts to influence regulation. Supporters counter that such moves simply reflect the value of political expertise in an era when technology policy is increasingly central to national and global governance.

For Osborne, the transition appears consistent with a long-stated desire to avoid being defined solely by his time in office. Yet his latest appointments have become emblematic of a wider shift that continues to attract scrutiny from ethics watchdogs and the public alike. As U.S. tech firms deepen their engagement with governments worldwide, the recruitment of seasoned political figures from Britain may be less an anomaly than a sign of what lies ahead.

Source: Techcrunch