OpenAI Remained Without Communications Chief for Nine Months

The company has left the role vacant since January 2026 and retained a search firm to assist with recruitment efforts.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a brass sphere resting on a stone plinth, evoking corporate structural refinement. — OpenAI has retained executive search firm Daversa Partners to fill its vacant chief communications officer role after a nine-month search. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should large technology companies prioritize public communication as a core business function?

OpenAI has operated without a chief communications officer for nine months since Hannah Wong stepped down in January 2026. The company recently retained executive search firm Daversa Partners to fill the position as it weighs potential reporting structures.

Why it matters

The company is prioritizing finding the right candidate over rushing the hiring process to ensure the leadership team aligns with its long-term goals. This high-level vacancy coincides with broader efforts to refine the organization's structure as it considers an IPO.

The firm is evaluating reporting structures for the new communications lead, considering having the role report directly to the president or the chief marketing officer. The chief marketing officer position itself has remained vacant since April 2026.

The players

OpenAI

An artificial intelligence research and deployment company that develops large language models.

Hannah Wong

The former chief communications officer who stepped down from her position in January 2026.

Jill Hazelbaker

A communications executive who declined an offer to join the company earlier this spring.

Daversa Partners

An executive search firm retained by the company to assist in recruiting for the vacant leadership role.

The details

OpenAI attempted to fill the communications vacancy earlier this spring, but Jill Hazelbaker ultimately declined the offer. The search for a new executive continues with assistance from Daversa Partners, which was brought on board this summer.

Hannah Wong stepped down as chief communications officer in January 2026.
Jill Hazelbaker declined an offer for the communications role in the spring of 2026.
The chief marketing officer role became vacant in April 2026.
A Pew survey on AI sentiment was conducted in August 2026.

The Tech Race

This internal leadership struggle occurs as public enthusiasm for AI has waned, with excitement dropping from 18% in 2021 to 8% by August 2026. The firm must navigate this shifting public sentiment while managing the high-stakes transition toward a potential IPO.

The stability of executive leadership at major AI firms directly influences how these companies roll out tools and safety policies to the public. Consumers should monitor how these structural changes affect the release cadence and transparency of upcoming AI software.

The takeaway

Corporate recruitment at the highest levels often requires a lengthy, meticulous process to ensure long-term cultural and strategic fit. Even for dominant tech firms, public perception and internal stability remain tightly linked as companies navigate major shifts like potential public offerings.