12 executives who left OpenAI in 2026
OpenAI continues to experience significant executive turnover in 2026, with key figures like Brad Lightcap and Fidji Simo stepping down.
In 2026, OpenAI experienced significant leadership changes as multiple executives departed the company. Denise Dresser, OpenAI's chief revenue officer, left the company in August to pursue new opportunities. Brad Lightcap, who had been with OpenAI since 2018, announced his departure in August to start something new. Fidji Simo, the CEO of applications, stepped down in July to become a part-time advisor due to health reasons.
Kevin Weil, the chief product officer, announced his departure in April to focus on his work on AI science. Bill Peebles, who headed the development of the Sora video generation model, left the company in April. Srinivas Narayanan, OpenAI's chief technology officer for business applications, announced his departure in April to spend time with his parents in India.
Finally, Barret Zoph, who returned to lead enterprise AI sales efforts in January 2026, left the company in June.
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