OpenAI Data Center Head Chris Malone Departs
Chris Malone, OpenAI's head of data centers, has left the company after approximately 17 months. His departure marks the latest in a series of departures of key executives from the artificial intelligence firm.
Chris Malone, the head of data centers at artificial intelligence company OpenAI, has departed the organization. Malone joined OpenAI in March 2023 and served in his role for about 17 months, according to reports.
During his tenure, Malone was significantly involved in expanding OpenAI's substantial computing infrastructure. This included key initiatives such as the "Stargate" project, a collaboration with Oracle and SoftBank aimed at building a massive AI-focused data center.
Prior to joining OpenAI, Malone had a lengthy career as an infrastructure expert. He previously held positions as a Distinguished Engineer at Meta Platforms from 2020 to 2025 and at Google as a Distinguished Engineer and Senior Director from 2008 to 2020. Malone holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
OpenAI confirmed Malone's departure to CNBC, stating, "We have recently reorganized our infrastructure organization to support the scale and pace of our work. We have a strong and experienced data center team with clear leadership and the technical expertise required to execute our plans."