OpenAI’s Head of Communications Is Departing the Organization

OpenAI’s chief communications officer, Hannah Wong, announced on Monday that she will be leaving the company in January, as reported by WIRED. OpenAI spokesperson Kayla Wood confirmed the departure in a statement to WIRED.

“Hannah has been instrumental in shaping public perception of OpenAI and the work we do,” said CEO Sam Altman and CEO of applications Fidji Simo in a joint statement. “Her remarkable talent for clarifying complex ideas, combined with her thoughtful and graceful approach, has been invaluable to us. We are profoundly thankful for her leadership and collaboration over the past five years, and we wish her every success in her future endeavors.”

Wong joined OpenAI in 2021 when it was still a modest research lab and has since led the communications team as ChatGPT evolved into one of the largest consumer products worldwide. She played a pivotal role in guiding the company through the PR crisis surrounding Altman’s short-lived ousting and subsequent rehiring in 2023—a phase referred to internally as “the blip.” Wong stepped into the role of chief communications officer in August 2024 and has since grown the communications team.

In a draft LinkedIn post shared with WIRED, Wong mentioned that OpenAI’s VP of communications, Lindsey Held, will take charge of the communications team until a new chief communications officer is appointed. OpenAI’s chief marketing officer, Kate Rouch, is overseeing the search for Wong’s successor.

“These years have been both intense and significantly formative,” Wong stated in her LinkedIn post. “I’m thankful to have played a part in telling OpenAI’s story, introducing ChatGPT and other amazing products to the world, and showcasing the individuals paving the way toward AGI during such an extraordinary period of growth and momentum.”

Wong expressed her eagerness to spend more time with her husband and children as she contemplates the next phase of her career.

Update: 12/15/2025, 7:30 pm EDT: WIRED has clarified Kate Rouch’s title.