OpenAI's No. 2 executive Fidji Simo steps down to focus on recovery from chronic illness
Fidji Simo, OpenAI's head of product and business, is transitioning to a part-time advisor role after a three-month medical leave proved longer and more complex than expected.
Departure announcement
Fidji Simo, OpenAI's No. 2 executive, announced on Thursday that she is stepping down from her full-time role to focus on recovering from a chronic illness. Simo had been on medical leave since April following a severe exacerbation of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a neuroimmune condition she was diagnosed with in 2019. She will remain at the company as a part-time advisor.
Three months ago, I had to go on medical leave after a severe exacerbation of a chronic illness I've lived with for seven years. During that time, it became clear that the road to recovery would be much longer and more complex than I had anticipated -- and that I needed to focus on it fully.
Health struggles
Simo first disclosed her health issues in April, when she announced a medical leave for a relapse of the condition. At the time, she expected a few weeks away, but the recovery proved far more demanding. In her note on X, she described the experience as jarring: building the future while navigating a disabling disease with no cure. She also expressed a belief that AI's most important opportunities lie in helping people solve real problems in their daily lives, especially health.
I am really sad about this and very grateful...we all wish her the best for a speedy recovery. this sucks.
C-suite reshuffle
Simo's absence triggered a series of leadership changes at OpenAI. President Greg Brockman assumed responsibility for product during her leave, and in May a broader reorganization put him in charge of product strategy and scaling across four pillars. Around the same time, COO Brad Lightcap moved to a special projects role, CMO Kate Rouch stepped down to focus on cancer recovery, and CPO Kevin Weil later left the company. Simo had joined OpenAI's board in 2024 and became CEO of Applications in May 2025, a role that consolidated business and product operations under her, with the COO, CFO, and CPO reporting to her.
- Fidji Simo joins OpenAI's board of directors.
- Simo becomes CEO of Applications, consolidating business and product operations.
- Simo takes medical leave; COO Brad Lightcap moves to special projects, CMO Kate Rouch steps down.
- President Greg Brockman takes charge of product strategy in a company reorganization.
- Simo announces she is stepping down from her full-time role to focus on health.
Business pressures
Simo's departure comes as OpenAI eyes a possible IPO and races to close the enterprise gap with rival Anthropic. ChatGPT's consumer growth cooled late last year, missing internal revenue targets, pushing the company to lean harder into coding tools, an area where it continues to trail Anthropic. Simo had been widely seen as a candidate to take on more responsibility once OpenAI went public, leaving CEO Sam Altman searching for a successor at a critical juncture.
What's next
Simo will remain a part-time advisor, but her exit removes one of the company's highest-profile executives. Altman now faces the task of filling the gap while steering OpenAI through a competitive landscape and a potential public offering. Simo, for her part, said her belief in technology's potential to solve deeply human problems has never been stronger, even as she steps back to prioritize her health.
