25th May 2010
Tony Blair hired by US billionaire
Vinod Khosla for climate change advice
Tony Blair has been hired as an adviser on climate change
by Californian billionaire Vinod Khosla, the latest in a
string of jobs the former prime minister has taken
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair during a visit to Alexandra Avenue Health and Social
Care Centre in Harrow, north London, which he visited as part of the Labour party's
General Election campaign Photo: PA
Care Centre in Harrow, north London, which he visited as part of the Labour party's
General Election campaign Photo: PA
The agreement will see Tony Blair Associates give strategic advice to Khosla Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in companies pursuing green technologies. Mr Khosla, who made his fortune as co-founder of computing giant Sun Microsystems, is hoping that Mr Blair's decade on the global stage helps unlock doors for the companies that California-based Khosla Ventures invests in.
The former prime minister, briefly enlisted last month by Gordon Brown to help Labour's flagging election campaign, will lend his name to projects, make introductions and deliver advice. Khosla Ventures has already raised more than $1bn from investors to bet on a range of technologies from solar power to biofuels.
Mr Khosla said that "with Tony's advice and influence' we will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to devise practical solutions that can solve today's most pressing problems."
It wasn't disclosed how much Mr Blair will be paid for the advice he gives to Khosla. He already has a £2m lobbying post with JP Morgan Chase and a £500,000 job with Zurich Financial.
Mr Blair also charges tens of thousands of pounds for public speaking, received a £4.5m advance for his memoirs and set up Tony Blair Associates to advise foreign countries including Kuwait. In total, he is estimated to have earned at least £15 million since leaving office two and a half years ago.
Mr Blair said that he believes "entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and beyond will have a tremendous impact on our environmental future."
Article courtesy of Telegraph.co.uk
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