The veteran crisis manager and Washington operator will oversee global communications and corporate positioning at the frontier AI company
OpenAI has hired one of the tech industry’s most experienced crisis managers. Jill Hazelbaker, currently president and chief corporate affairs officer at Uber, is joining the AI company as its chief corporate affairs officer, according to Axios.
She will run OpenAI’s global communications and corporate positioning.
Who Hazelbaker is and what she is taking on
Hazelbaker has spent more than a decade at Uber. During that stretch, the ride-hailing company went from a sprawling, crisis-prone startup to one of the largest consumer technology platforms in the world.
Her remit there was broad. She led Uber’s global marketing, communications, policy and safety teams.
Her final day at Uber is November 30, 2026, according to the research findings. Axios describes the OpenAI position as a new role.
The research also indicates that OpenAI’s top corporate affairs seat had sat empty since early 2026, roughly approximately 11 months.
Before Uber, Hazelbaker held senior posts at Snap and Google. Axios calls her among the best-known and best-connected executives in Washington.
A résumé built on high-pressure moments
Hazelbaker’s career started in politics. She served as National Communications Director for Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, per the research findings.
At Uber, she managed communications through the ouster of founder Travis Kalanick.
Outside her corporate roles, she sits on the boards of the McCain Institute and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She has also been named to Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list.
What this means for OpenAI and the AI sector
For investors watching a possible OpenAI IPO, the hire reads as a governance and messaging upgrade. The research findings suggest investors may view the move positively, on the theory that a seasoned operator could steady internal communications and sharpen external messaging ahead of any public listing.
There is also a gap to watch. With her Uber departure set for November 30, 2026, OpenAI’s corporate affairs function will run a bit longer before she is fully in the seat.
For Uber, the departure removes a long-tenured executive who oversaw several major functions at once. How the company splits up marketing, communications, policy and safety after she leaves will be telling.
