Anthropic Names Cuéllar Its First Global Affairs Chief

Anthropic, the U.S. artificial intelligence startup behind Claude, is expanding its policy leadership as advanced AI moves deeper into government, defense and corporate decision-making. The appointment of Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, a former California Supreme Court justice with experience spanning law, academia and international affairs, underscores how relations with regulators and governments have become a strategic priority. Countries are weighing AI’s effects on economic competitiveness, national security and public safety, raising the stakes for companies developing frontier models.

Anthropic said on Aug. 4 that Cuéllar will become its first chief global affairs officer, leading global policy, international strategic engagement and government relations. He served on California’s highest court from 2015 to 2021 and became president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 2021. In January 2026, Cuéllar also joined Anthropic’s independent Long-Term Benefit Trust, adding direct familiarity with the company’s governance as governments intensify debate over AI’s economic and security consequences.