The Special Committee of the OpenAI Board, after a significant review conducted by WilmerHale, announced its complete confidence in the ongoing leadership of Mr. Sam Altman and Mr. Greg Brockman.
Dozens of interviews were carried out by WilmerHale, the firm engaged to conduct the review. Witnesses included members of OpenAI’s prior Board, OpenAI executives, advisors to the prior Board, and other relevant witnesses. Various corporate actions were evaluated, and more than 30,000 documents were reviewed. Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI Board, stated, “We have unanimously concluded that Sam and Greg are the right leaders for OpenAI.”
The OpenAI Board also confirmed the election of three new Board members, signifying a commitment to expansion. They include Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nicole Seligman, former EVP and Global General Counsel of Sony; and Fidji Simo, CEO and Chair of Instacart. These new members bring extensive experience in leading global organizations and navigating complex regulatory environments, with backgrounds that span technology, nonprofit, and board governance.
Alongside the election of new board members, OpenAI also adopted significant improvements to its governance structure. Enhancements include adopting a new set of corporate governance guidelines, strengthening OpenAI’s Conflict of Interest Policy, creating a whistleblower hotline for all OpenAI employees and contractors, and establishing additional Board committees.
Following the WilmerHale review, the Special Committee recommended that the full Board endorse the decision to rehire Mr. Altman and Mr. Brockman. The Special Committee expressed full confidence in their ongoing leadership, thereby reinstating confidence in OpenAI’s leadership.
Disclaimer: The above article was written with the assistance of AI. The original sources can be found on OpenAI.
