PARIS — In a major talent acquisition for the artificial intelligence sector, Steve Jarrett, the Chief AI Officer of French telecom giant Orange, has announced his departure to join Anthropic, the high-profile AI safety and research company.
Jarrett, who spent seven years building out Orange’s digital capabilities, announced via a LinkedIn post that he will officially assume his new role at Anthropic on August 25, 2026. He will be stationed in Paris, where his initial mandate will focus heavily on adapting Anthropic’s AI products to the unique needs of the European and African markets.
A Farewell to Telecom
Reflecting on his tenure at Orange, Jarrett praised the telecom company’s commitment to tech ethics and global communication, noting its reach across 26 countries—including deep connections in Africa—under the leadership of CEO Christel Heydemann.
“I have loved working for Orange. The company has deeply held ethical beliefs matched with world-class engineering,” Jarrett wrote.
Why Anthropic?
Jarrett highlighted that the alignment of values drew him to his new employer. He emphasized that Anthropic impressed him with its ethics-driven mission to develop AI systems that are reliable, interpretable, and steerable.
The move marks a significant step for Anthropic as it aggressively expands its footprint in Europe, anchoring its regional strategy with seasoned enterprise tech leaders who understand localized market regulations and infrastructure.
