OpenAI is undergoing another leadership change after Fidji Simo, widely regarded as the company's second-highest-ranking executive responsible for product and business operations, announced she is stepping down from her full-time role because of ongoing health concerns. She will remain involved with the company as a part-time adviser.

Simo said the decision followed months of medical leave and the worsening of a chronic neuroimmune condition, explaining that her recovery requires her full attention. She described the move as difficult but necessary to prioritize her long-term health.

A former CEO of Instacart and longtime Meta executive, Simo joined OpenAI in 2025 to lead the company's product, commercial, and applications strategy. During her tenure, she played a key role in expanding OpenAI's consumer and enterprise AI offerings as the company accelerated global growth.

Following her departure from day-to-day leadership, OpenAI will redistribute her responsibilities among several senior executives, including President Greg Brockman, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar, and Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon, ensuring continuity across the company's operations.

The leadership transition comes as OpenAI continues to invest heavily in advanced AI products and enterprise services while facing intense competition across the artificial intelligence industry. Despite stepping back, Simo said she remains optimistic about OpenAI's future and plans to continue supporting the company in an advisory capacity.