Key facts
- Fidji Simo is stepping down from her full-time role as OpenAI's chief of applications.
- Simo will transition to a part-time advisory position at the company.
- She cited an extended medical leave due to a chronic illness as the reason for her departure.
- Simo joined OpenAI in May 2025 as CEO of Applications, a role that consolidated business and product operations.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI's chief of applications and the company's No. 2 executive, is stepping down from her full-time role due to an extended medical leave. Simo announced in a staff note that her ongoing recovery from a chronic neuroimmune condition has been longer and more challenging than anticipated, leading her to transition to a part-time advisory position. She joined OpenAI in May 2025 as CEO of Applications, a newly created role that consolidated business and product operations, with other executives like COO Brad Lightcap, CFO Sarah Friar, and CPO Kevin Weil reporting to her. Simo previously disclosed her health issues in April, at which time Lightcap moved into a special projects role and CMO Kate Rouch departed. Simo's departure comes as OpenAI is reportedly eyeing a potential IPO and competing with Anthropic, leaving CEO Sam Altman to find a successor for a role that was seen as potentially expanding in responsibility post-IPO. Simo's focus had been on growing OpenAI's consumer business, though the company has recently leaned more into coding tools.