Brad Lightcap, former COO of OpenAI and the company’s “first business employee,” announced his departure on social platform X on August 12, stating he is going to “start something new,” which may imply he will launch his own startup. Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, commented, “Thank you for everything you have done! ... We could not have come this far without you. I am looking forward to continuing our cooperation in the future.” Lightcap joined OpenAI in 2018 as CFO after interviewing more than 20 people for a finance role at the then non-profit with only 40 employees, no products and no clear revenue model; he took the position himself. In 2022, he became COO. By the middle of 2025, Lightcap had expanded OpenAI’s market expansion team from about 50 people to more than 700 people. Until April this year, he was transferred to a new position focusing on “special projects,” with Denise Dresser, OpenAI’s Chief Revenue Officer, taking over most of his responsibilities. This year has seen frequent executive turmoil: last month, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s “second-in-command,” resigned from her full-time position due to an acute attack of her chronic disease, becoming a part-time consultant. In April, three executives—Bill Peebles, Kevin Weil, and Srinivas Narayanan—announced their departures. This series of personnel changes coincides with