OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman will take direct responsibility for the company’s ChatGPT product business after Fidji Simo announced she was stepping down as CEO of Applications due to a chronic medical condition, multiple reports said Friday.
Leadership shift consolidates product oversight
CNBC and PYMNTS reported that Brockman, who assumed product duties when Simo took a medical leave in April, will continue handling those responsibilities. The role covers what Bloomberg and CNBC described as OpenAI’s “most important and profitable projects,” effectively positioning Brockman as the company’s new operational second-in-command beneath CEO Sam Altman.
Bloomberg said Simo’s responsibilities will be divided among Brockman, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar and Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon, citing an internal memo from Simo to staff. OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“I am deeply grateful for all Fidji has done for OpenAI and to advance our mission, and for the opportunity to have worked alongside her for the past few years,” Brockman wrote in reply to Simo’s post on X, according to reports.
What changed and why it matters for users and customers
Simo announced she would transition to a part-time adviser role because of health issues. The reallocation of duties preserves continuity for OpenAI’s commercial roadmap while avoiding an external hire, according to reports. Altman previously described the Applications unit as “a group of existing business and operational teams responsible for how our research reaches and benefits the world.”
- Product continuity: Brockman had already taken on product duties during Simo’s medical leave, limiting disruption to development and operations.
- Internal split: Remaining responsibilities are to be shared among senior executives rather than replaced by a single external hire.
- Commercial focus: Coverage emphasized that the affected projects are among OpenAI’s key revenue-generating efforts.
Business and household implications
The change matters to a wide set of stakeholders. Businesses that integrate ChatGPT into customer service, productivity tools, or developer platforms rely on steady product leadership to manage upgrades, API changes and pricing. Households using consumer-facing ChatGPT features may see product iterations proceed without pause, since the transition keeps product oversight within the existing executive team.
| Person | New/Changed Role |
|---|---|
| Greg Brockman | Oversees ChatGPT product business; continues product duties |
| Fidji Simo | Stepped down as CEO of Applications; transitioning to part-time adviser |
| Sarah Friar & Jason Kwon | Will absorb portions of Simo’s responsibilities |
Simo, who joined OpenAI after leaving Instacart and had been announced by Altman as CEO of Applications in 2025, expressed gratitude for support from Brockman, Altman and the board. Media coverage indicates OpenAI does not plan to recruit an external replacement for her role.
The consolidation places product accountability with founders and senior executives at a company whose tools are increasingly embedded in corporate workflows and consumer apps. That centralization can speed decision-making on product strategy and monetization, while it may also concentrate operational risk should further changes occur at the top.
