OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap departs to start a new venture

OpenAI’s executive room is getting noticeably emptier.

Brad Lightcap, one of the company's longest-serving executives, is leaving to launch a new venture. In an internal message posted online Tuesday, the former COO told staff he is moving on to build "something new." Lightcap joined OpenAI in 2018, served four years as CFO, took over as COO in 2022, and shifted to lead special projects earlier this year. TechCrunch first reported the exit.

Why it matters: The exit adds to a wave of high-profile departures as OpenAI prepares for a major IPO. AGI lead Fidji Simo stepped down in July, joining former Sora head Bill Peebles and Science VP Kevin Weil on the list of recent high-level exits.

Know this: Lightcap built OpenAI's core business machinery from scratch, including its finance, legal, operations, and partnership teams. He worked with CEO Sam Altman back at Y Combinator before joining OpenAI, though he hasn't shared details about his next venture yet.

OpenAI is heading toward an industry-defining public offering with a drastically reshuffled leadership team.