OpenAI's long CCO vacancy highlights debate over communications role
OpenAI has been without a chief communications officer for nine months since Hannah Wong departed in January. The company's preferred candidate declined, and it brought in an executive search firm as it weighs whether the role should report to the president or the chief marketing officer. The delay comes amid AI safety controversies, a legal fight with Elon Musk, and a possible IPO.
OpenAI has lacked a permanent chief communications officer since Hannah Wong left in January after almost five years. Its first pick, Uber’s Jill Hazelbaker, declined in spring. Internal recruiting failed to fill the post, so Daversa Partners was hired in summer. OpenAI says it won’t rush.
The company is also deciding whether the CCO should report to Greg Brockman or fall under the CMO, a seat empty since April. Meanwhile, OpenAI faces AI safety, security, regulation scrutiny, litigation with Elon Musk, Pentagon-related questions, and possible IPO. Pew found only 8% of Americans more excited than concerned about AI, down from 18% in 2021.
The prolonged vacancy may affect how clearly OpenAI communicates with regulators, investors, employees, customers, and a wary public. If the CCO lacks direct access to top leadership, safety and policy decisions could be explained less effectively, potentially shaping public trust in AI. The choice may also signal how much weight OpenAI gives communications relative to marketing, influencing other firms’ expectations for executive roles.