Fidji Simo, a pivotal figure in the artificial intelligence landscape and formerly the chief product and business officer at OpenAI, has announced her departure from the company. This decision stems from a significant worsening of a chronic illness, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which she was diagnosed with in 2019.
Simo shared that her journey with POTS has involved extensive medical consultations, managing symptoms, navigating treatments, and grappling with the inherent uncertainties and the often-invisible burden of being a patient. This personal health challenge has led her to step away from her demanding role at OpenAI, following a medical leave initiated in April. During her absence, OpenAI President Greg Brockman assumed responsibility for product management.
“When I went on leave, many people told me I was courageous for prioritizing my health,” Simo stated in a recent social media post. “The truth is that I am only making this decision now because I failed to make it many times before.” She will be transitioning to a part-time advisor role at OpenAI.
Simo joined OpenAI in May 2025, tasked with spearheading the company’s applications business. At the time of her hiring, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized that Simo’s mandate was to “enable our ‘traditional’ company functions to scale as we enter a next phase of growth.” This appointment was seen as a strategic move to bolster OpenAI’s commercialization efforts, particularly as the company reportedly prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO). While OpenAI has confidentially filed for an IPO, mirroring competitor Anthropic, a public market debut timeline has not been set, with plans reportedly deferred to at least next year.
Prior to her tenure at OpenAI, Simo held the position of CEO at Instacart. During her leadership, she successfully guided the grocery delivery giant through its IPO, breaking a three-decade drought in tech public offerings. Her extensive experience in the tech sector also includes over a decade in senior leadership roles at Meta, where she led Facebook from 2019 to 2021. Reflecting on her past experiences, Simo noted that a similar health situation at Facebook two years prior had presented her with the opportunity for a full year of medical leave, which she declined. She expressed regret for not taking that advice, recalling how CEO Mark Zuckerberg had advised her to “play the long game.”
Sam Altman acknowledged Simo’s contributions and expressed his gratitude for her friendship and personal character in a public statement. Simo’s departure, while personal, highlights the significant pressures faced by executives in fast-paced, high-growth technology companies and underscores the increasing importance of prioritizing long-term well-being amidst demanding professional environments. Her strategic insights and experience in scaling tech businesses will undoubtedly remain a valuable asset to OpenAI in her advisory capacity.
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