OpenAI Applications Chief Fidji Simo steps down
13 Jul 2026, 11:28 AMSimo joined OpenAI’s board in 2024 before taking charge of the newly created CEO of Applications role in 2025.
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Fidji Simo, one of OpenAI’s top executives and head of its applications business, is stepping away from her full-time position and will continue with the company in a part-time advisory capacity.
The move comes after an extended medical leave related to a recurring neuroimmune condition, which she said has been more challenging and lengthy than anticipated.
Simo joined OpenAI’s board in 2024 before taking charge of the newly created CEO of Applications role in 2025. Reporting directly to CEO Sam Altman, she oversaw the company’s product and commercial operations, while senior leaders including the chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and chief product officer reported to her.
Before OpenAI, Simo served as CEO of Instacart, guiding the firm through its public listing in 2023, and previously spent more than a decade at Meta, where she led the Facebook app business.
Simo had been closely involved in scaling OpenAI’s consumer products, although growth of ChatGPT reportedly slowed late last year, prompting the company to place greater emphasis on AI coding tools, a segment where rival Anthropic has gained momentum.
Following the announcement, Altman publicly thanked Simo for her contributions and friendship, expressing support for her recovery. The leadership change coincided with a major product launch from OpenAI, which introduced its new GPT-5.6 model family and ChatGPT Work, an AI agent designed to automate workplace tasks such as preparing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Simo’s exit also comes amid OpenAI’s aggressive efforts to attract and retain talent. Over the past year, the company revised its employee stock-vesting policies to provide faster access to equity, reflecting intense competition for AI talent and substantial investment in workforce retention.
This also comes after OpenAI confidentially filed for its initial public offering (IPO) in June, shortly after rival Anthropic also initiated plans to go public.
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