AI Firms Hire Platform Veterans for Reputation

Companies building AI products are staffing communications and public-trust functions with senior executives from large consumer platforms.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People

AI Firms Hire Platform Veterans for Reputation

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OpenAI has appointed Jill Hazelbaker as its chief corporate affairs officer, a role leading global communications, reputation, and public trust functions, reporting to OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman. She departs Uber, where she had been promoted in May to a broad portfolio spanning marketing, communications, public policy, safety, human resources, recruiting, and real estate.

Why it matters

The appointment places a senior communications and policy leader inside one of the most closely watched AI companies, with responsibility for corporate brand, positioning, social media, and cultural and community partnerships. OpenAI said the hire reflects its commitment to investing in leadership to engage with the people and institutions shaping AI's future.

Hazelbaker has more than a decade at Uber, joining its leadership in 2017 and later holding a seven-part portfolio after her May promotion. Her previous top jobs include Snap and Google.

The players

OpenAI

OpenAI is an artificial intelligence developer whose models and products are used by businesses and consumers worldwide.

Uber

Uber is a global ride-hailing and delivery platform whose marketing, policy, and safety functions Hazelbaker oversaw before departing.

Greg Brockman

Greg Brockman is OpenAI's president and co-founder, to whom Hazelbaker will report.

Jill Hazelbaker

Jill Hazelbaker is a communications executive with prior top roles at Snap and Google and more than a decade at Uber.

The details

Hazelbaker's OpenAI remit covers global communications and reputation, corporate brand and positioning, social media, and cultural and community partnerships. She reports directly to Greg Brockman, placing communications in close contact with the company's leadership on how it presents its work and engages the public. Her background includes campaign work for Sen. John McCain and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg before her technology-sector roles.

2017: Hazelbaker joins Uber's leadership.
May: Hazelbaker is promoted to a broad Uber portfolio.
November 3, 2026: OpenAI announces her appointment as chief corporate affairs officer.

Market Landscape

Senior communications and policy executives from large consumer platforms are increasingly moving into AI developers as those companies build public-facing functions. Hazelbaker's move from Uber to OpenAI follows that pattern, bringing platform-scale reputation and regulatory experience into the AI sector.

Operators in AI and consumer technology should expect more emphasis on corporate communications, public trust, and community engagement as firms scale. Teams that manage reputation and policy relationships should watch how competitors structure these functions.

The takeaway

Companies building AI products are recruiting communications leaders with platform-scale experience, signaling that reputation and public trust are now core operating functions. Operators should track how peers staff these roles and what they prioritize in their public-facing work.