Indian American strategic finance leader Krishna Rao has taken on the role of chief financial officer at the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. His appointment is expected to be instrumental in shaping the company’s financial strategy and operations, particularly as it aims for international expansion.
The company announced Rao’s appointment on May 21, highlighting his nearly two decades of experience as a strategic finance leader for prominent, customer-focused brands and as an investor. Anthropic emphasized that Rao would play a pivotal role in advancing their enterprise momentum and supporting their global growth initiatives.
Krishna Rao joins Anthropic from Fanatics Commerce, where he served as CFO. His extensive background includes leading finance and operational initiatives at Cedar, a healthcare payments and patient engagement platform, where he also held the CFO position.
Before his tenure at Cedar, Rao was the Global Head of Corporate & Business Development and led Corporate and Operations FP&A at Airbnb. During his time at Airbnb, he helped the company navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and was instrumental in raising over $10 billion in equity and debt capital, including overseeing the company’s IPO and other private financings.
Earlier in his career, Rao worked as a private equity investor at Blackstone and as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. His academic credentials include a JD from Yale Law School and an AB in economics from Harvard College, bringing a unique combination of legal, economic, and strategic expertise to his role at Anthropic.
Krishna Rao conveyed his excitement for his new role, expressing, “I’m delighted to join Anthropic during this crucial phase of its evolution. The company’s commitment to creating AI systems that positively impact humanity aligns perfectly with my values. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with Anthropic’s outstanding team to establish a robust financial framework that fosters the ethical advancement and implementation of our technology.”
Daniela Amodei, co-founder and President of Anthropic, praised Rao’s selection, highlighting his exceptional track record in fostering strategic growth and operational excellence at mission-oriented companies. She emphasized Rao’s vital expertise in financial strategy, analysis, capital allocation, and scaling high-growth enterprises as essential for Anthropic’s continued expansion. Amodei expressed excitement about Rao joining the leadership team and aiding Anthropic in navigating its next growth phase.
