OpenAI communications chief to step down in January

OpenAI’s chief communications officer, Hannah Wong, will leave the company in January.

Wong joined the AI firm in 2021 and took on the chief communications officer role in August 2024.

During her tenure, she led OpenAI’s communications team through a period of rapid growth and the company’s internal leadership crisis in 2023.

According to Wong, OpenAI’s VP of communications, Lindsey Held, will manage the team until a new executive is hired.

Chief marketing officer Kate Rouch will oversee the search for Wong’s replacement.

🔗 Source: Wired

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

About 20 researchers and executives, including several co-founders, left in 2024 1, and news outlets called the turmoil ‘worthy of a soap opera’ 1.
Departures include CTO Mira Murati, Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, and VP of research Barret Zoph 1. The economic research team also reported resignations over tension between rigorous analysis and an advocacy role 2.
Analysts see a conflict between the original non-profit research mission and a pivot to a product-driven business (projected revenue of $11.6 billion by 2025 1), which has fueled exits among research-driven staff.

OpenAI hired PHD, a global media agency, as its worldwide media agency of record in 2025 3. The scope covers media planning and buying (advertising placements). The PR agency of record (i.e., the long-term primary communications partner) remains unclear.
CCO transitions kick off agency reviews that open a 3 to 6 month window for competitive pitches. Kate Rouch, OpenAI’s chief marketing officer (CMO), leads the search 4 while on leave after a breast cancer diagnosis, with Gary Briggs as interim marketing head 5. Decision making is diffuse, which gives PR and corporate communications shops a chance.
U.S. media spend at OpenAI jumped from $2,600 in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023 to $19 million in Q1 2024 6. Larger budget supports communications work amid AI safety disputes, alleged self-censoring of economic research 2, and leadership instability 1.