Anthropic has added Chris Liddell, a former executive at Microsoft and General Motors, to its board of directors as the artificial intelligence company weighs a potential initial public offering, the company said through reporting that first disclosed the appointment.
Liddell’s background includes a prominent role in guiding GM through its return to public markets. He helped lead the automaker’s $23 billion IPO in 2010 following GM’s emergence from bankruptcy, and has experience managing finance functions in large organizations - expertise that Anthropic’s leadership views as relevant should it pursue a listing.
The AI startup, known for developing the Claude chatbot and considered a key rival to OpenAI, has told financial partners that it may seek a stock market listing by the end of 2026. Anthropic also recently announced the close of a $30 billion financing round that placed the company at a $380 billion valuation including the new investment.
During his time as GM’s chief financial officer, Liddell was noted for rebuilding the company’s finance department. He resigned after 14 months in that role amid reported conflicts with other executives. Earlier in his career, Liddell served as deputy chief of staff for policy coordination during President Trump’s first term.
Providing a comment on his new role, Liddell said that Anthropic’s work - building AI that is both capable and responsible - is critical for the future. Anthropic co-founder and president Daniela Amodei welcomed Liddell’s addition, highlighting his career at the intersection of technology, public service, and governance and his track record of helping organizations navigate high-stakes decisions.
Liddell will join a board that already includes Anthropic co-founders Daniela and Dario Amodei, as well as Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix; Yasmin Razavi, a general partner at Spark Capital; and Jay Kreps, co-founder and CEO of Confluent.
Context and implications
The appointment aligns with Anthropic’s signal to financial stakeholders that a public listing is under consideration by the end of 2026. Bringing on a director with prior experience in navigating a major IPO and in rebuilding corporate finance functions provides the company with governance and listing-related expertise as it evaluates strategic options.
Anthropic’s recent financing close and its roster of board members reflect the company’s positioning at the intersection of technology development and capital markets activity.