OpenAI Names BlackRock Executive to Board
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Amelia Cross
- January 14, 2025
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OpenAI has appointed Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi, a senior managing director at BlackRock and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, to its board of directors. Ogunlesi brings extensive experience in navigating global, complex commercial landscapes, as highlighted by OpenAI board chairman Bret Taylor.
Before joining BlackRock, Ogunlesi spent 23 years at Credit Suisse, holding key roles such as executive vice chairman of the investment banking division. Earlier in his career, he worked as an attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and served as a law clerk to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Ogunlesi also sits on the boards of BlackRock, Topgolf Callaway Brands, Kosmos Energy Holdings, and Terminal Investment Limited.
In a press release, Ogunlesi expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to OpenAI’s mission, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure in unlocking AI’s potential responsibly.
OpenAI’s board has undergone significant changes since late 2023, following the reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman after a brief removal. The current board includes Bret Taylor, Adam D’Angelo, Sue Desmond-Hellmann, Paul M. Nakasone, Nicole Seligman, Fidji Simo, Larry Summers, Zico Kolter, and Altman himself, with D’Angelo being the only member from the previous board.
