OpenAI is undergoing further changes in its senior leadership. Fiji Simo, who was responsible for the company's product and business divisions and was considered a second-in-command, has announced her departure from full-time employment. This decision was made by her after a period of medical leave to focus on recovering from a chronic illness.
According to sources close to the situation, Simo informed employees of her decision in a message sent on Thursday (the 9th). In her statement, she indicated that her health condition had worsened, and the recovery process would be 'much longer than expected.' After leaving her executive position, she will maintain ties with OpenAI as a part-time consultant.
In a post on X, Fiji Simo explained that she decided to cease full-time employment for the sake of her health. She revealed that she was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in 2019, a chronic condition that recently flared up. According to the leader, she faced a regimen filled with doctor visits, treatment, and uncertainty. She wrote: 'I spent countless hours in medical offices dealing with symptoms, treatment, insurance, uncertainties, and all the invisible work that accompanies a patient's life.'
Simo began medical leave in April of this year. During her absence, OpenAI President Greg Brockman took over responsibilities for the product division. Commenting on her decision, the leader noted that many praised her for prioritizing her health but admitted that she made the decision later than she should have.
She recalled an instance when she worked at Facebook. Two years after her diagnosis, the company offered her a full year of medical leave, which she immediately declined. 'Two years after I got sick, Facebook offered me the chance to take a whole year off. I didn't even think about it. I said no right away,' she stated. According to her, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to convince her otherwise. 'He told me I should think long-term. I wish he had.'
This departure marks another significant change in OpenAI's leadership. Fiji Simo was chosen by Sam Altman to manage the company's product and business divisions and was considered one of the key figures in expanding consumer operations. According to available information, it was expected that she would take on an even more significant role in the company after the initial public offering (IPO). Her departure means that Sam Altman must find a replacement for one of the firm's most important positions.
In her message on X, Altman thanked his colleague for her contribution. He wrote: 'I am grateful for her contribution to the company, as well as for her friendship and for what a person she is.'
Fiji Simo joined OpenAI in May 2025. Prior to this, she led Instacart as CEO, where she oversaw the company's IPO and helped complete the longest period of tech IPO drought in three decades. Previously, she also spent over ten years in leadership roles at Meta. From 2019 to 2021, she was responsible for Facebook management. Her experience with consumer companies was one of the factors influencing her hiring at OpenAI. During her tenure, she spearheaded the initial efforts to develop the so-called 'super app,' launched by OpenAI this Thursday (the 9th). She also coordinated the scaling back of secondary company projects, including the Sora video generation application.
Simo's departure comes amid shifts in OpenAI's strategy. According to sources, ChatGPT's growth slowed down late last year, leading the company to miss its internal revenue targets. Consequently, the company shifted its focus to developing artificial intelligence (AI) programming tools, an area where it believes there is high profitability and where Anthropic has gained a competitive advantage. This week, during an annual meeting organized by Allen & Co. in San Valley, Idaho, OpenAI leaders discussed the company's plans to expand its presence among enterprise clients and compete more directly with Anthropic in this market. Fiji Simo's departure represents the latest change in OpenAI's leadership at a time when the company is striving to accelerate its growth, strengthen its business client base, and advance its capital raising plans.
