OpenAI’s No. 2 executive steps down over health issues
Madison Mills
Fri, July 10, 2026 at 5:40 AM GMT+5:30
1 min read
Fidji Simo is stepping down after taking medical leave because of a worsening chronic illness
The big picture:Simo’s departure removes one of OpenAI’shighest-profile executives
Driving the news:Simo said Thursday she is stepping down as OpenAI’s head of product and business after a “severe exacerbation” of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a chronic condition she was diagnosed with in 2019
She went on medical leave in April, and OpenAI President Greg Brockman assumed responsibility for product during her absence
Simo will remain at OpenAI as a part-time advisor
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news
What they’re saying: “I am only making this decision now because I failed to make it many times before,” Simo wrote on X, adding that she’s seeing the opportunity for AI applications in health now more than ever
CEO Sam Altman posted on X saying that he is “really sad about this and very grateful…we all wish her the best for a speedy recovery. this sucks.”
Catch up quick:Simo joined OpenAI in 2025 after leading Instacart through its IPO and previously spent more than a decade at Meta
CEO Sam Altman hired her to scale OpenAI’s applications business as the company expanded beyond frontier AI models into consumer and enterprise products
AI is moving fast. Axios AI+ keeps you ahead. Sign up free atAxios.com
