OpenAI loses a top data center exec, as stream of high-profile departures continues

Chris Malone, OpenAI’s former head of data centers, has left the company amid a reorganization and amid over a dozen executive departures this year. Malone oversaw the execution of the company’s $500 million data center strategy, but his departure is not entirely clear.

Malone joined OpenAI in March last year, making his tenure relatively short. Before joining OpenAI, he spent nearly five years at Meta and more than a decade at Google. He was instrumental in the company’s data center initiative, which is considered a key partner in the effort.

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Background on Chris Malone

It isn’t entirely clear why Malone left, but with the AI infrastructure buildout frenzy in full swing across the industry, data center strategy has become one of the most closely watched roles at any AI lab. OpenAI said it had recently reorganized its infrastructure organization to support the scale and pace of its work.

Malone’s departure is not an isolated incident. The company has seen over a dozen executive departures this year, including several high-profile exits. In July, the company lost its head of ethics, Chloé Bakalar, and last week it was reported that the company had disbanded its preparedness team.

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The churn has raised questions about the company’s stability and whether it may be overvalued. Concerns have arisen that the company may not match the gargantuan investments being made in the lab with its profitability.

Why is Malone leaving?

Back OpenAI has lost yet another executive, and the timing of this one stands out in particular given this individual oversaw the execution of the company’s data center strategy.

Chris Malone, OpenAI’s former head of data centers, left the company last week, the Wall Street Journal has reported . Malone, who spent nearly five years at Meta and more than a decade at Google before that, joined OpenAI in March of last year, making his tenure relatively short.

Malone joined the company not long after the launch of the Stargate Project , a $500 million data center initiative championed S. OpenAI, along with Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank and Microsoft, is considered a key partner in the effort.

Why is Malone leaving? It’s isn’t entirely clear. With the AI infrastructure buildout frenzy in full swing across the industry, data center strategy has become one of the most closely watched roles at any AI lab, which makes turnover in that seat especially surprising.