Details of Departure and Interim Arrangement
Villagra’s departure was confirmed by OpenAI and comes as part of leadership changes amid the firm's aggressive growth plans.
Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, will temporarily oversee people operations while a permanent replacement is sought.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s newly appointed CEO of Applications, is leading the search for a new Chief People Officer.
Background and Future Plans
Before joining OpenAI, Villagra spent nearly 16 years at Hudson River Trading heading people operations.
She cited a desire to pursue personal passions related to art, music, and storytelling, aiming to help people better understand artificial general intelligence (AGI).
OpenAI faces fierce rivalry from tech giants like Meta, which has reportedly offered $100 million signing bonuses to recruit top AI researchers.
The company is currently navigating expansion beyond ChatGPT and moving toward becoming a public benefit corporation to support a $40 billion funding round.
Context of AI Industry Talent Competition
OpenAI has experienced several key departures recently, including CTO Mira Murati.
Leadership changes come amid heavy investment in advancing AI technologies and broadening commercial offerings.
Meta and other competitors are engaged in an aggressive talent war to gain supremacy in AI research and development.
Key Facts
Departure Date: August 22, 2025
Position: Chief People Officer (CPO)
Interim Leader: Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer
Successor Search Lead: Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications
Reason: Pursue personal passion and storytelling related to AGI
Industry Context: Intense competition for AI talent, expansion beyond ChatGPT
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Julia Villagra’s exit reflects the dynamic and competitive environment at OpenAI as the company accelerates its growth and innovation in AI technology.*
