OpenAI power consolidates under co-founder Greg Brockman ahead of prospective IPO

OpenAI power consolidates under co-founder Greg Brockman ahead of IPO

OpenAI President Greg Brockman will continue to oversee the company's products after Fidji Simo officially stepped down from her role. Simo, who served as the company's product and business chief, left her position due to chronic illness. "I am deeply grateful for all Fidji has done for OpenAI and to advance our mission," Brockman wrote in a post on X.

Greg Brockman, president of OpenAI, arrives at a federal courthouse as the trial in Elon Musk's lawsuit over OpenAI's for-profit conversion continues, in Oakland, California, U.S., May 6, 2026. Manuel Orbegozo | Reuters

There's a new second-in-command at OpenAI. Greg Brockman, the company's president, is officially responsible for OpenAI's most important and profitable projects after Fidji Simo stepped down from her role on Thursday due to chronic illness.

Simo, a former Meta executive and ex-CEO of Instacart, served as OpenAI's product and business chief for about a year, focusing the company's roadmap and helping it scale.

Simo, who was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, in 2019, took a medical leave in April, and said Thursday that she would transition to a position as a part-time advisor.

Brockman, an OpenAI co-founder, took over product responsibilities during Simo's absence, and will continue to lead those efforts, according to a source familiar with the company's plans who asked not to be named due to confidentiality.

Brockman will oversee OpenAI's ChatGPT product business, as well as its go-to-market teams, enterprise teams and compute initiatives, the person said.

"I am deeply grateful for all Fidji has done for OpenAI and to advance our mission, and for the opportunity to have worked alongside her for the past few years," Brockm...