OpenAI has appointed executives from investment firm BlackRock to its board of directors.
OpenAI announced Tuesday that Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi, a managing director at BlackRock and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, an infrastructure investment platform, has joined OpenAI's board of directors. Brett Taylor, chairman of the OpenAI board of directors, said in a statement that Ogunlesi has an “extraordinary track record of operating globally, navigating complex and dynamic commercial environments, and driving the success of organizations.” .
Mr. Ogunlesi worked for the financial services company Credit Suisse for 23 years, including as executive vice chairman of Credit Suisse's investment banking division. Previously, Mr. Ogunlesi was an attorney at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York, and served as a law clerk to Thurgood Marshall, the nation's first black Supreme Court Justice.
Mr. Ogunlesi also serves on the boards of BlackRock, Topgolf Callaway Brands, Cosmos Energy Holdings, and Terminal Investments Limited.
“The rapid advancement and development of AI provides a unique opportunity to build a better future. Responsible delivery is key,” Ogunlesi said in a press release. “I am excited to contribute to this effort and look forward to serving on the OpenAI Board.”
OpenAI's current board bears little resemblance to its board in late 2023. Board members fired CEO Sam Altman, but reinstated him a few days later. Altman requested a remake of the board as a condition of his return, and his wish was eventually granted.
OpenAI's board of directors currently includes Taylor, Altman, Quora CEO Adam DiAngelo, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Sue Desmond Hellman, former NSA Director Paul M. Nakasone, and former Sony・The names include Nicole Seligman, president of Corporation of America, Fiji Simo, CEO of Instacart, and economist Larry. Summers and Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Zico Colter. D'Angelo is the only holdover from the previous board.