OpenAI has experienced a significant leadership shake-up, with Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and Research Vice President Barret Zoph resigning just hours after the announcement of Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati’s departure. CEO Sam Altman disclosed the resignations in a post on X, explaining that the decisions were made independently by each individual, but the timing aligned to facilitate a coordinated transition for the company’s leadership.
Altman stated that the moves aim to ensure a smooth leadership transition as the company prepares for a new generation of leaders. Mark Chen, the current Vice President of Research, has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Research and will work alongside Jakub Pachocki, who has been appointed Chief Scientist. Additionally, Matt Knight will take on the role of Chief Information Security Officer, while Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil and Vice President of Engineering Srinivas Narayanan will continue to oversee the applied team focused on delivering OpenAI’s technology to both enterprises and consumers.
Research scientist Josh Achiam will assume a new position as head of mission alignment, tasked with ensuring the organization’s culture aligns with its goals. Altman expressed his intent to focus more on the technical and product sides of OpenAI moving forward.
In his announcement, Altman attempted to reassure both employees and external observers that these leadership changes are typical in rapidly growing companies. He acknowledged the unusual abruptness of these shifts but emphasized the necessity of adapting to the evolving organizational needs.
McGrew emphasized his decision to take a break after eight years at OpenAI, reflecting on the organization’s growth from a small nonprofit to a leading research and deployment company. Zoph, who joined OpenAI in 2022, indicated that it felt like a suitable time to pursue new opportunities.
While the departing executives publicly described their exits as amicable, their resignations come amid reports that OpenAI is transitioning from a nonprofit governance model to a for-profit entity, with Altman expected to receive a 7% equity stake. This restructuring follows a reported funding round that valued OpenAI at $150 billion, suggesting potential disagreements over the company’s future direction.
The exit of McGrew, Zoph, and Murati adds to a growing list of high-level departures at OpenAI, which has seen significant turnover among its co-founders and other key executives in recent months. Altman, while acknowledging the challenges of leadership at OpenAI, highlighted the privilege of leading a fast-growing company with a significant impact on technology.
OpenAI’s press office was unavailable for comment.