OpenAI's Chief Communications Officer Search Hits 9 Months as Top Candidate Declined and IPO Looms
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 23, 2026
OpenAI has been unable to fill its Chief Communications Officer role for nine months following Hannah Wong's January 2026 departure, with top candidate Jill Hazelbaker of Uber turning down the offer in spring. The company has since enlisted executive search firm Daversa Partners and is reassessing reporting structure, while staffing the gap with VP-level hires and outside PR firm Brunswick Group for IPO communications. The prolonged vacancy is notable given OpenAI's string of reputational crises and a pre-IPO timeline that experts warn could affect valuation if left unaddressed.
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