OpenAI's new sales leader faces the challenge of turning buzz into revenue
Dali Rajic, previously president and COO at Wiz, has been named OpenAI's chief revenue officer. Known for his disciplined enterprise sales approach, he will be central to the company's planned 2027 IPO. The role has seen frequent turnover, and observers question whether he can succeed where others have struggled.
Rajic’s background includes a childhood split between Yugoslavia and Germany before moving to the U.S. at 16, followed by degrees from Cal Poly Pomona and Northwestern’s Kellogg School. His reputation for intensity and disciplined enterprise sales was forged at Wiz, where he served as president and COO, and earlier roles that built a track record of closing large deals. OpenAI’s CRO seat has seen five changes in the past year, with Denise Dresser’s exit reportedly initiated by the company. Rajic’s mandate ties directly to the 2027 IPO timeline, making his ability to convert AI enthusiasm into recurring revenue a critical test. Colleagues describe him as blunt and intellectual, but also question whether OpenAI’s fast-paced culture will wear him down, as it has predecessors.
The revolving-door CRO role at OpenAI could shape investor confidence ahead of a planned 2027 IPO. If Rajic stabilizes sales and demonstrates scalable revenue, it may reassure markets and accelerate AI commercialization. However, frequent leadership churn could signal internal friction, potentially delaying the public offering or dampening valuation. Enterprises adopting OpenAI’s tools may face shifting contract strategies, while competitors like Anthropic could gain if OpenAI’s sales execution falters. The outcome may influence how other AI startups structure their go-to-market leadership.