Hannah Wong, the Chief Communications Officer at openai, announced her departure from the association on Monday, with plans to leave in January. This news was confirmed by OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood in a statement to WIRED.
In a joint statement, CEO Sam Altman and Fidji Simo, CEO of applications, expressed their appreciation for Wong’s contributions: “Hannah has played a pivotal role in shaping public perception of OpenAI and our initiatives. Her unique ability to clarify complex ideas with thoughtfulness and poise has been invaluable. We are immensely thankful for her leadership and collaboration over the past five years and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Wong became part of OpenAI in 2021 when it was still an emerging research lab. She has as led the communications team through notable growth as ChatGPT evolved into one of the most prominent consumer products globally. Notably,she was crucial during a challenging period known internally as “the blip,” which involved Altman’s brief removal from his position followed by his reinstatement in 2023. In August 2024, Wong took on the role of Chief Communications Officer and subsequently expanded her team.
According to a draft LinkedIn post shared with WIRED, Wong indicated that Lindsey Held, OpenAI’s VP of Communications, will temporarily oversee communications until a new chief Communications Officer is appointed. Kate Rouch, who serves as Chief Marketing Officer at OpenAI, is leading the search for Wong’s successor.
Reflecting on her time at OpenAI in her LinkedIn message, Wong stated: “These years have been both intense and transformative. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to help narrate OpenAI’s story while introducing ChatGPT and other remarkable products to audiences worldwide during such an exceptional phase of growth.”
Looking ahead after leaving OpenAI,Wong expressed excitement about spending more quality time with her husband and children while contemplating what comes next in her career journey.
Update: December 15th, 2025 – 7:30 PM EDT: The title held by Kate Rouch has been clarified by WIRED.