OpenAI comms chief Hannah Wong to depart the company
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OpenAI chief communications officer Hannah Wong has decided to step down, Axios has learned. She will depart the company at the end of January.
Why it matters: Wong was the AI giant's first CCO and guided the company through the launch of ChatGPT, heightened regulatory scrutiny, controversies, a slew of deals and lawsuits.
The big picture: Her departure comes as the company is pushing on a variety of fronts, from $1.4 trillion in committed infrastructure spending, a flurry of new products such as Sora, and a corporate restructuring that could lead to an IPO in the coming years.
Catch up quick: Wong joined OpenAI in 2021 from Apple and helped build the communications function from the ground up.
- During her tenure she oversaw media relations, internal communications, strategic messaging, events, brand design, social media, community and talent partnerships.
Zoom in: OpenAI vice president of communications Lindsey Held Bolton will serve as interim team lead and will report to chief marketing officer Kate Rouch.
- There will be a formal search to find Wong's replacement, according to a source familiar with the situation.
What they're saying: "Hannah has played a defining role in shaping how people understand OpenAI and the work we do," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and CEO of applications Fidji Simo said in a statement.
- "She has an extraordinary ability to bring clarity to complex ideas, and to do it with care and grace. We're deeply grateful for her leadership and partnership these last five years, and we wish her the very best," they added.
Go deeper: Walt Disney to invest $1 billion in OpenAI, license characters for Sora
