OpenAI Announces Leadership Changes Amid Growth

OpenAI announced a series of leadership changes on Friday, including medical leaves for two top executives and a role transition for its chief operating officer, as the artificial intelligence company navigates rapid growth and preparations for a potential initial public offering.

Fidji Simo, who leads the company's artificial general intelligence development and oversees product and business strategy, will take medical leave for several weeks to address a neuroimmune condition known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Diagnosed in 2019, the disorder affects the autonomic nervous system, causing symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and chest pain. Simo, who joined OpenAI from Instacart in August 2025, disclosed in an internal memo that she had delayed treatments to focus on work but now requires intervention to stabilize her health. "The timing is maddening because we have such an exciting roadmap ahead that the team is executing on, and I hate to miss even a minute of it," she wrote. "But the company is in great hands; we have an excellent leadership team that's ready to step up."

During Simo's absence, OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman will manage product...