OpenAI hires Uber president Jill Hazelbaker as chief corporate affairs officer

OpenAI has hired Uber President Jill Hazelbaker as its chief corporate affairs officer, a newly created role where she will oversee global communications, brand strategy, and public trust initiatives while reporting to OpenAI President Greg Brockman. Hazelbaker previously managed major restructuring and executive portfolios at Uber after joining in 2015. Her exit follows the departures of other high-ranking Uber leaders, including autonomous mobility chief Sarfraz Maredia, during a broader transition period for the ride-hailing company.

Hazelbaker's appointment at OpenAI

• ▪Jill Hazelbaker, Uber's president and chief corporate affairs officer, is joining OpenAI as chief corporate affairs officer on November 3, 2026
• ▪Jill Hazelbaker will report directly to OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman in her new role as OpenAI's chief corporate affairs officer

Scope of OpenAI's corporate affairs role

• ▪A chief corporate affairs officer role at OpenAI oversees global communications, corporate positioning, reputation, brand, social media, and cultural, community, and partner convenings
• ▪OpenAI president Greg Brockman stated that as artificial intelligence becomes integrated into daily life, earning public trust and communicating effectively are critical responsibilities
• ▪OpenAI stated that Jill Hazelbaker's role extends beyond typical chief communications officer duties by combining strategic global positioning with public trust building

Hazelbaker's career before her promotion

• ▪Jill Hazelbaker joined Uber in 2015 after working at Snapchat Inc., Alphabet Inc.'s Google, and political campaigns for Senator John McCain and Mayor Michael Bloomberg
• ▪Jill Hazelbaker led Uber's policy and communications during Travis Kalanick's tenure as Uber's co-founder and CEO and later served as a key lieutenant to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi

Executive departures at Uber

• ▪Uber's executive departures, including those of Jill Hazelbaker and Sarfraz Maredia, occur as investors evaluate the company's competitive standing in an era increasingly dominated by autonomous vehicle technologies
• ▪Jill Hazelbaker's departure is part of a wave of senior executive exits from Uber in 2026, including global head of autonomous mobility Sarfraz Maredia and delivery head Susan Anderson