OpenAI Appoints Jill Hazelbaker as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
OpenAI has appointed Jill Hazelbaker as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, a role in which she will lead the company's global communications and corporate positioning. The hire signals OpenAI's intent to invest in the leadership needed to engage more deeply with the people and institutions shaping AI's future, and it brings in an executive with nearly two decades of experience advising technology companies and political leaders.
What the role covers
Jill Hazelbaker will lead OpenAI's global communications and corporate positioning. In the role she will work closely with leaders across OpenAI to deepen public understanding of AI and strengthen trust in the company's mission.
OpenAI framed the appointment as a reflection of its commitment to investing in the leadership and capabilities required to engage more deeply with the people and institutions shaping AI's future.
Background: Uber
Hazelbaker joins OpenAI from Uber, where she served as President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. In that role she oversaw Uber's global communications, marketing, public policy, safety, and people teams.
During her decade at Uber, she played a central role in shaping the company's reputation, navigating complex regulatory and reputational challenges, and building the capabilities needed to support its growth around the world. OpenAI's announcement describes her as having helped lead Uber's transformation from an ambitious startup into one of the world's largest global technology platforms.
Earlier career: Snap, Google, and politics
Before joining Uber, Hazelbaker led communications and public policy at Snap. Earlier still, she held senior leadership roles at Google, overseeing corporate communications globally, communications across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and government relations in Europe.
Hazelbaker began her career in U.S. politics, serving in leadership roles on local, state, and national campaigns. She was National Communications Director and Chief Spokesperson for Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and Press Secretary to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Why the appointment matters
The appointment places a communications and policy operator with experience across consumer technology platforms and political campaigns into a senior role at OpenAI. Her stated mandate — deepening public understanding of AI and strengthening trust in OpenAI's mission — maps directly onto the reputational and regulatory pressures that accompany the company's growth.
OpenAI did not disclose an effective start date, reporting lines beyond close collaboration with company leaders, or any changes to existing communications leadership in the announcement.