Archive · 26 Aug 2026
OpenAI Data Centre Chief Exits Amid Executive Turnover, Infrastructure Backlash
Chris Malone, who led OpenAI’s data-centre work, has left the company.
He joined OpenAI in March 2025.
OpenAI said it recently changed how its infrastructure team is organized.
The company says experienced leaders are still managing its data-centre plans.
Several other senior executives have also left or announced plans to leave.
Some investors are worried because OpenAI may eventually sell shares to the public.
Greg Brockman said the departures are not unusual, but OpenAI’s fame makes each one receive extra attention.
Meanwhile, some US communities and politicians oppose new AI data centres because they can use a lot of water.
Chris Malone, OpenAI’s data-centre chief, has left after joining the company in March 2025.
OpenAI said it reorganized its infrastructure group and has experienced leaders overseeing its data-centre work.
Malone’s departure follows exits by Brad Lightcap, Denise Dresser, Fidji Simo and more than four other senior executives.
Some investors are concerned about the turnover ahead of a potential IPO, while Greg Brockman called the departures atypical only in their level of scrutiny.
US opposition to AI data centres is growing over water use, with Ohio and upcoming midterm elections receiving particular attention.
- Who
- Chris Malone, OpenAI, its executives and investors, and US communities and politicians concerned about data centres.
- What
- Malone has left as OpenAI faces a broader executive turnover and growing opposition to AI data-centre expansion.
- When
- Malone joined OpenAI in March 2025; other cited departures occurred in April, July and earlier this month.
- Where
- OpenAI and the United States, particularly Ohio.
- Why
- His departure followed an infrastructure reorganization, while the company is expanding computing capacity amid investor concerns and public scrutiny over data-centre water use.
Critics and concerned stakeholders
OpenAI and infrastructure supporters
Executive turnover
Critics and concerned stakeholders
Some investors view the departures of Malone and other senior executives as concerning ahead of a potential IPO.
OpenAI and infrastructure supporters
Greg Brockman said the exits are not actually atypical and receive unusual attention because OpenAI is constantly in the spotlight.
Data-centre expansion
Critics and concerned stakeholders
Opponents in the United States criticize data centres, particularly because of their significant water use.
OpenAI and infrastructure supporters
OpenAI said its reorganized infrastructure group has clear leadership, experienced data-centre personnel and the technical expertise to carry out its plans.
Political impact
Critics and concerned stakeholders
The National Republican Senatorial Committee warned that data centres could become a sleeper issue in upcoming US midterm elections, while Sherrod Brown has made opposition to them central to his Ohio campaign.
OpenAI and infrastructure supporters
The articles do not identify a specific response from OpenAI or other infrastructure supporters to the broader political backlash.
- Departing executive
- Chris Malone, OpenAI’s head of data centres
- OpenAI start date
- Malone joined OpenAI in March 2025
- Infrastructure reorganization
- Malone stopped reporting directly to President Greg Brockman and began reporting to Vice President Sachin Katti before leaving
- Current data-centre leadership
- Uday Ruddarraju leads the data-centre team, Brent Mayo leads build and delivery, and Spas Lazarov leads data-centre engineering
- Projected computing spending
- OpenAI is projected to spend as much as $750 billion on computing through 2030
- Ohio lease
- OpenAI has signed a 10-gigawatt data-centre lease in Ohio with SB Energy
- Potential IPO
- The articles describe a potential IPO valued at $852 billion and reportedly pushed to 2027
- Infrastructure concern
- US backlash against data centres has focused mainly on their significant water usage
