OpenAI’s head of data centers, Chris Malone, left the company last week after a short tenure of just over a year. Malone, who previously worked at Meta and Google, joined OpenAI shortly after the launch of the Stargate Project, a $500 million data center initiative backed by the Trump administration. His departure follows a broader reorganization of OpenAI’s infrastructure team, with Malone shifting to report to a new executive rather than OpenAI President Greg Brockman.
The move adds to a string of more than a dozen executive departures in 2026, including recent losses in revenue, operations, and product leadership. Former COO Brad Lightcap and chief revenue officer Denise Dresser left within days of each other, while product chief Fidji Simo stepped down for health reasons. OpenAI attributes the turnover to a reshuffle aimed at scaling its infrastructure, though the departures have fueled scrutiny ahead of a delayed IPO now expected in 2027.
OpenAI’s safety and ethics teams have also seen high-profile exits, including the disbanding of its preparedness team. The company downplays the significance of the churn, but the ongoing talent flight raises questions about its valuation and long-term strategy.
