OpenAI Names Former Uber Executive Jill Hazelbaker as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer
OpenAI has appointed Jill Hazelbaker, a longtime technology and political communications leader, as its new chief corporate affairs officer. The move places an experienced executive at the center of OpenAI’s efforts to manage global communications, public trust, and institutional engagement as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly influential in everyday life.
Hazelbaker previously served as president and chief corporate affairs officer at Uber, where she helped guide the company through major periods of growth, public scrutiny, regulatory pressure, and international expansion. At OpenAI, she will oversee global communications and corporate positioning, working with teams across the company to explain the role of AI more clearly and strengthen confidence in OpenAI’s mission.
The appointment comes at a critical moment for the artificial intelligence industry. As AI tools are adopted by businesses, governments, developers, educators, and consumers, companies building these systems face growing pressure to communicate transparently and responsibly. OpenAI’s decision to bring in Hazelbaker signals a stronger focus on public engagement, policy discussions, and trust-building at a global scale.
Greg Brockman, OpenAI co-founder and president, said the company’s ability to communicate effectively is becoming more important as AI reaches more people.
“As AI becomes part of more people’s lives, how we communicate, engage, and earn public trust has never been more important,” Brockman said. He added that Hazelbaker brings “exceptional judgment, seasoned leadership, and a deep understanding of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with building technology at global scale.”
Hazelbaker described artificial intelligence as “the most profound technological shift of our lifetime” and said the work of earning public trust is now more important than ever. She said she looks forward to working with Sam Altman, Brockman, and the broader OpenAI team as the company continues to develop and deploy advanced AI systems.
Her background makes her one of the more prominent communications executives in the technology sector. During her decade at Uber, Hazelbaker oversaw global communications, marketing, public policy, safety, and people operations. She played a key role in shaping Uber’s public image while the company expanded from a fast-growing startup into one of the world’s largest technology platforms.
Before joining Uber, Hazelbaker led communications and public policy at Snap. She also held senior roles at Google, where she worked on global corporate communications, communications across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and government relations in Europe.
Her career began in United States politics, where she held leadership positions on local, state, and national campaigns. She served as national communications director and chief spokesperson for Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and previously worked as press secretary to then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
For OpenAI, Hazelbaker’s appointment reflects the company’s growing need to engage with policymakers, businesses, users, and the broader public as AI regulation and adoption accelerate worldwide. With her experience across major technology companies and political campaigns, she is expected to play a central role in how OpenAI presents its work, responds to public concerns, and participates in conversations about the future of artificial intelligence.
