Power Drain: Top Data Center Boss Exits OpenAI as Executive Exodus Grows

OpenAI lost another major leader, and the timing hits right when server strategy matters most. Chris Malone, who ran data center operations for the firm, stepped down last week according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal. Malone spent nearly five years at Meta and over a decade at Google before joining OpenAI in March of last year, making his total time at the company relatively brief.

Malone arrived at OpenAI shortly after the launch of the Stargate Project, a massive $500 million server initiative championed by federal officials. OpenAI aims to construct giant server hubs across the United States alongside partners like Oracle, Nvidia, SoftBank, and Microsoft.

Why Malone decided to step away remains unclear. With tech companies racing to build out massive server infrastructure across the globe, losing a top server executive marks a noticeable change for a leading research lab.

Responding to inquiries about the departure, OpenAI stated that leadership recently reorganized its infrastructure team to match the growing scale and speed of its work. The company added that experienced leaders remain on the ground to guide the data center group and execute ongoing operational plans.

Reporting indicates that the internal reorganization shifted reporting lines directly under OpenAI president Greg Brockman before moving under vice president Sachin Katti, who took over primary leadership of the department. Several other managers currently oversee specific operational areas. Uday Ruddarraju manages the data center team, Brent Mayo leads construction and site delivery programs, and industry veteran Spas Lazarov handles infrastructure engineering.

Malone is far from the only executive walking out the door. His resignation adds to a growing list of more than a dozen high-level departures this year alone. Industry trackers counted at least 13 senior exits in 2026, with several key managers resigning over the past month. These departures are not entry-level staff, but senior directors who held critical operational roles inside the company.

Just two weeks ago, OpenAI replaced chief revenue officer Denise Dresser after only eight months on the job. Two days before Dresser left, the company lost Brad Lightcap, one of its longest-serving executives who operated as chief operating officer. Lightcap mentioned starting a fresh project without sharing specific details about his next move.

About a month before those exits, product and business chief Fidji Simo stepped down from her position due to health reasons, moving into an advisory role. She previously operated as a key deputy reporting directly to chief executive officer Sam Altman.

Safety and ethics departments saw high-profile departures as well. In July, head of ethics Chloé Bakalar left the firm, following news that OpenAI dissolved its internal preparedness team. That team held responsibility for evaluating extreme risks linked to advanced software models.

Other product leaders stepped away after project shifts. Bill Peebles, former head of the Sora image team, left after internal strategy adjustments. Former chief marketing officer Kate Rouch also resigned earlier in April, citing health reasons similar to Simo.

Company leadership attempted to play down the ongoing exit wave. Co-founder Greg Brockman recently stated that intense public spotlight on the business makes every standard resignation look larger than it would at other companies.

Still, constant leadership turnover raises real questions as OpenAI prepares for a future public offering. Originally expected to go public this year, reports now point to a potential 2027 IPO timeline. Investors worry that current valuations run too high while operating profits lag behind massive infrastructure investments. A steady flow of departing executives does little to calm those financial doubts.