OpenAI Loses Head of Enterprise AI Sales
Barret Zoph, OpenAI's head of enterprise AI sales, has left the company after five months, following a previous departure and stint at Thinking Machines Lab
Key points
- Barret Zoph, OpenAI's head of enterprise AI sales, has departed the company after just five months.
- Zoph returned to OpenAI in mid-January 2026, after previously leaving in fall 2024 to join Thinking Machines Lab as co-founder and CTO.
- His departure comes amid tensions between OpenAI and Thinking Machines Lab, founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati.
- Zoph's role at OpenAI was significant, leading the company's push into enterprise sales ahead of its planned IPO.
- The reason for Zoph's departure from OpenAI has not been disclosed, but he left Thinking Machines Lab in January 2026 due to alleged misconduct.
Barret Zoph, the head of enterprise AI sales at OpenAI, has left the company after a brief five-month tenure. This marks his second departure from OpenAI, having previously left in the fall of 2024 to join Thinking Machines Lab, a competing AI company founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati.
Zoph's return to OpenAI in mid-January 2026 was seen as a significant move, as he was tasked with leading the company's push into enterprise sales, a key revenue driver ahead of its planned IPO. However, his departure has raised questions about the company's ability to retain top talent and navigate the complex landscape of the AI industry.
The relationship between OpenAI and Thinking Machines Lab has been tense, with Murati's company posing a competitive threat to OpenAI's dominance in the AI market. Zoph's departure from Thinking Machines Lab in January 2026 was abrupt, following reports of alleged misconduct involving an undisclosed relationship with a colleague.
Sources
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