OpenAI expands leadership team: Strategic new addition from BlackRock to the board

OpenAI has taken a significant step to strengthen its infrastructure strategy by appointing Adebayo Ogunlesi as a member of the board. Ogunlesi, an experienced manager from BlackRock, brings extensive expertise in infrastructure investments, gained as Senior Managing Director at BlackRock and through the sale of his company, Global Infrastructure Partners. The impressive deal of around 12 billion dollars made Ogunlesi a billionaire. Ogunlesi's entry into the OpenAI board is considered strategically valuable, particularly given the AI organization's increasing focus on expanding data centers and energy resources. In a recently released statement, OpenAI emphasized the importance of the new member: his advice could be crucial in advancing the global restructuring of AI infrastructure, fostering innovation, and stimulating economic growth. In recent months, the San Francisco-based company has increasingly called for support from public and private entities for costly infrastructure projects. These investments are essential to develop more complex AI systems and ensure the competitiveness of the United States compared to China. In a recently published economic concept, OpenAI reiterated the central role of such investments. With the appointment of Ogunlesi, the OpenAI board now has ten members, including figures such as Sam Altman, Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, and Instacart CEO Fidji Simo. Ogunlesi's joining comes at a crucial phase for OpenAI, as the company considers restructuring from a nonprofit research institution to a Public Benefit Corporation. Such a change could be attractive to investors but requires close collaboration between the board, investors, and regulatory authorities.