Saad Ullah
⬤ OpenAI will lose its communications chief in January when Hannah Wong leaves after more than three years in the role. She joined in 2021 and soon turned into one of the audible faces of the company while public attention on OpenAI exploded. During that stretch the firm moved from relative obscurity to constant headline status.
⬤ Wong showed her value most clearly during the bruising board room crisis of late 2023. The episode placed every OpenAI move under harsh light plus aligning employees, partners, regulators and reporters demanded steady work. Chief executive Sam Altman but also board member Fidji Simo both praised her calm guidance when events turned turbulent.
⬤ The company has arranged cover. Lindsey Held, now vice president of communications, will run the group on an interim basis while a permanent replacement is sought. Chief marketing officer Kate Rouch is leading the search. The hand over coincides with OpenAI's simultaneous push to widen partnerships, answer regulators and stay in front of rival labs.
⬤ For artificial intelligence outfits of OpenAI's scale, communications is no longer a support function - it is central. Governments as well as watchdog groups are scrutinising safety and rule-making proposals - every public statement has to land exactly as intended. OpenAI appears to recognise the stakes, which explains the deliberate interim appointment while it hunts for a long term communications head.
Saad Ullah
