Krishna Rao, a seasoned finance professional with experience at companies like Airbnb and Fanatics Commerce, has recently been appointed as the first Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup focused on generative AI systems. In his new role, Rao will be instrumental in shaping the company's financial strategy and operations as it continues to grow and compete in the AI space.
Who is Krishna Rao?
With nearly 20 years of experience in strategic finance leadership roles, Krishna Rao has an impressive background that spans across customer-centric, world-class brands and as an investor. His career includes positions as a private equity investor at Blackstone, a strategy consultant at Bain & Company, Global Head of Corporate & Business Development and leading Corporate and Operations FP&A at Airbnb, CFO at Cedar, a healthcare payments and patient engagement platform, and CFO at Fanatics Commerce. As Anthropic's first CFO, he is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the company's financial strategy and operations, contributing to strategic growth, financial strategy and analysis, capital allocation, and scaling the organization during its phase of high growth.
Work History
- Anthropic, Chief Financial Officer: 2024 - Present
- Fanatics, Inc., Chief Financial Officer, Fanatics Commerce: 2023 - 2024
- Cedar, Chief Financial Officer: 2021 - 2023
- Airbnb, Global Head of Corporate & Business Development: 2018 - 2021
- Airbnb, Director, FP&A: 2015 - 2018
- Blackstone, Principal, Private Equity Group: 2011 - 2015
- Bain & Company, Senior Associate Consultant: 2007 - 2008
- Bain & Company, Associate Consultant: 2005 - 2007
Education History
Krishna Rao's educational background is both prestigious and impressive. He earned his A.B. in economics, graduating summa cum laude from Harvard University in 2005. Following his undergraduate studies, Rao pursued a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at Yale Law School, completing the program in 2011. This strong foundation in both economics and law has undoubtedly contributed to his successful career in strategic finance leadership roles.
When did Krishna Rao join Anthropic?
On May 1, 2024, Krishna Rao joined Anthropic as their first Chief Financial Officer (CFO), bringing his extensive experience in strategic finance leadership roles to the AI startup. Since joining the company, Rao has been instrumental in shaping Anthropic's financial strategy and operations, contributing to its growth and competitiveness in the AI industry. As of now, Krishna Rao has been with Anthropic for a few months, playing a crucial role in the company's ongoing development and expansion.