Jill Hazelbaker jumps to OpenAI as chief corporate affairs officer
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Jill Hazelbaker, Uber's president and chief corporate affairs officer, is moving to OpenAI in the new role of chief corporate affairs officer, overseeing the frontier AI company's global communications and corporate positioning.
Why it matters: Hazelbaker, a veteran of political campaigns who also held top jobs at Snap and Google, is among Washington's best-known and best-connected executives.
- Hazelbaker told Axios: "For me, it's the chance to help shape how the world understands, engages with, and ultimately benefits from the most consequential technology of our generation."
- Hazelbaker has spent more than a decade helping transform Uber from an overgrown startup in near-constant crisis into one of the world's largest consumer technology platforms, while leading the company's global marketing, communications, policy and safety organizations.
Zoom in: Hazelbaker's broad role includes OpenAI's global communications and reputation, plus corporate brand and positioning, social media, cultural and community partnerships and convenings — everything about how the company communicates, engages with the world and builds public trust.
- OpenAI said in an announcement: "Jill's appointment reflects OpenAI's commitment to investing in the leadership and capabilities needed to engage more deeply with the people and institutions shaping AI's future."
Hazelbaker said in a statement that AI "represents the most profound technological shift of our lifetime. The stakes are enormous, the possibilities are extraordinary, and the work of building public trust has never been more consequential."
- Hazelbaker was promoted in May to a vast portfolio at Uber that included leading global teams responsible for marketing, communications, public policy and safety efforts, as well as human resources, recruiting and real estate functions.
What they're saying: Hazelbaker will report to Greg Brockman, OpenAI president and co-founder. Brockman said that as AI "becomes part of more people's lives, how we communicate, engage, and earn public trust has never been more important."
- "Jill brings exceptional judgment, seasoned leadership, and a deep understanding of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with building technology at global scale," Brockman added.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said that when he joined Uber in 2017, "one of my first conversations was with Jill. In that first phone call, she had a strong point of view and a clear plan on what we needed to do to right the ship and build Uber into a generational company we could all be proud of."
- "It was trademark Jill: operating with exceptional clarity, integrity, and energy," Khosrowshahi added. "In the years since, she has been the driving force behind many of our most important strategic moments, a beloved leader and outstanding team-builder, and a deeply trusted adviser to me and many others. I'll miss her and wish her the best as she takes on her next adventure."
Hazelbaker, a proud Oregon native and University of Oregon graduate, began her career on the campaigns of Sen. John McCain and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
