Jill Hazelbaker is moving from Uber to OpenAI as chief corporate affairs officer, with responsibility for global communications and corporate positioning. Announced November 3, 2026, the appointment places the executive under OpenAI president Greg Brockman after a lengthy leadership search. Her previous responsibilities at Uber provide context for the new role.
Key Takeaways
- OpenAI announced the appointment on November 3, 2026, creating a chief corporate affairs officer position
- Hazelbaker will report to OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman
- Her portfolio covers communications, reputation, corporate positioning and external engagement
- Uber promoted Hazelbaker to president and chief corporate affairs officer in May 2026
Jill Hazelbaker Takes a New Leadership Role at OpenAI
Jill Hazelbaker’s appointment gives OpenAI an executive responsible for how the company communicates with outside audiences. The company announced the appointment Tuesday, November 3, after Hazelbaker spent more than a decade at Uber. Axios described the corporate affairs position as a newly created role.
Axios reported that her wider portfolio will include reputation, social media, cultural and community partnerships, and corporate events. OpenAI’s statement describes a role focused on strengthening public understanding of artificial intelligence. The company also said she will work closely with leaders across the organization.
Brockman described public trust as central to the appointment, saying that “how we communicate, engage, and earn public trust has never been more important.” His statement explained the company’s stated priorities without specifying performance targets or changes to its products.
The reporting line is notable because Hazelbaker will report to Brockman rather than through a marketing executive, according to Axios. That arrangement provides a direct connection to OpenAI’s senior leadership. Hazelbaker’s own statement focused on helping people understand and engage with AI.
Uber Experience Spanned Marketing, Safety and Employee Operations
Hazelbaker joined Uber in 2015 as vice president of communications and public policy. She subsequently became a senior vice president and assumed oversight of marketing in 2019. Her responsibilities expanded again on May 11, 2026, when Uber named her president and chief corporate affairs officer, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The filing shows that Hazelbaker took over responsibilities previously held by chief people officer Nikki Krishnamurthy and gained oversight of safety operations. Uber’s executive profile also lists human resources, recruiting and real estate among her responsibilities, alongside marketing, communications and public policy.
The expanded position connected external communications with internal functions involving employees and operational safety. However, OpenAI has not announced that Hazelbaker will manage comparable workforce or safety operations. Its description of her new role concentrates on communications and corporate engagement.
Before Uber, Hazelbaker led communications and public policy at Snap. Earlier positions at Google included corporate communications and responsibility for communications across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described her as a trusted senior colleague. In comments reported by Axios, he recalled that she brought “a strong point of view and a clear plan” to an early discussion after he became CEO in 2017.
Uber’s corporate affairs work occurred alongside the company’s autonomous mobility plans, which Khosrowshahi has discussed publicly. Although her Uber portfolio included communications and safety, neither company has linked the OpenAI appointment to autonomous vehicle projects.
OpenAI Appointment Follows a Months-Long Search
The new appointment follows a prolonged effort to fill senior communications leadership at OpenAI. Former chief communications officer Hannah Wong announced that she would leave the company in January 2026 after nearly five years. The newly announced corporate affairs title is not identical to Wong’s former position, and OpenAI has not described it as a direct replacement.
In September, Fortune reported that a search for communications leadership had continued for about nine months. The publication identified Hazelbaker as an earlier candidate who had declined an approach during the spring, citing people familiar with the process. OpenAI did not address those reported discussions in its November 3 announcement.
Fortune also described uncertainty over the seniority and reporting structure of the earlier communications position. OpenAI’s announcement and Axios’ account establish that the new chief corporate affairs officer reports to Brockman. They do not explain the selection process or specify changes to the responsibilities of other communications executives.
The appointment also differs from operational AI leadership positions such as HSBC’s chief AI officer appointment. That position concerns how AI is adopted within a banking business. Hazelbaker’s announced responsibilities focus instead on OpenAI’s communications, reputation and engagement with outside audiences.
OpenAI and Uber already had a publicly announced commercial relationship. On October 22, OpenAI said Uber would make ChatGPT Work available to more than 30,000 employees, following an initial pilot involving 1,000 staff members. The rollout includes company-approved integrations and employee training. Neither organization has associated that rollout with the executive appointment.
OpenAI has not publicly specified Hazelbaker’s start date or outlined a revised departmental structure. Those details remain outside the confirmed terms of the leadership change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jill Hazelbaker?
Jill Hazelbaker is a technology communications executive who previously held senior roles at Uber, Snap and Google. On November 3, 2026, OpenAI announced that she would join as chief corporate affairs officer.
What will Jill Hazelbaker do at OpenAI?
She will lead the company’s global communications and corporate positioning. Axios reported that her responsibilities also include reputation, social media, cultural partnerships and corporate events.
Who will Hazelbaker report to?
Hazelbaker will report to Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and co-founder. The company has not detailed any other changes to the reporting structure of its communications teams.
What was Hazelbaker’s most recent role at Uber?
She served as president and chief corporate affairs officer after a promotion announced in May 2026. Her responsibilities included marketing, public policy, safety operations and employee-related functions.
