OpenAI hires former Uber executive to lead global communications
OpenAI has appointed former Uber executive Jill Hazelbaker as its new chief corporate affairs officer to lead global communications and corporate positioning.
OpenAI announced on November 3 that Jill Hazelbaker will join the company as chief corporate affairs officer. In her new role, Hazelbaker will oversee global communications and corporate strategy. She joins from Uber, where she spent ten years, most recently serving as president and chief corporate affairs officer, overseeing communications, marketing, and public policy.
The organizational structure following this appointment remains unclear, as OpenAI currently employs Chris Lehane as chief global affairs officer. The company has not yet confirmed the reporting hierarchy or the division of responsibilities between the two executives.
The hire comes as OpenAI navigates a complex regulatory environment, including the implementation of the European Union’s AI Act. As global scrutiny of generative AI increases, the company is placing greater emphasis on corporate affairs and legislative lobbying efforts, as evidenced by its recent expansion of federal lobbying activities in the United States.