OpenAI Hires Slack CEO as New Chief Revenue Officer

OpenAI logo on a smartphone screen

Background and Appointment

OpenAI announced the hiring of Denise Dresser, the former chief executive of Slack, to fill the newly created chief revenue officer (CRO) position. Dresser joined Slack after a multi‑year tenure in senior roles across the Salesforce portfolio and became Slack’s CEO in 2023, where she played an important role in the company’s AI integration strategy. OpenAI emphasized that she will report directly to Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap and will begin her new responsibilities in December 2025.

Role and Responsibilities

As CRO, Dresser is tasked with overseeing enterprise affairs and managing OpenAI’s global revenue strategy. The company credited her for a deep understanding of large businesses, customers, and product scaling. OpenAI’s Applications CEO Fidji Simo praised Dresser’s track record, stating that she has helped redefine how millions of people use AI to work more efficiently and stay better connected. The move is described as a strategic step to put AI tools into the hands of millions of workers across every industry.

Strategic Context

OpenAI is focusing on generating more profit as a business and has recently undergone a for‑profit restructuring. The appointment of an experienced C‑suite executive aligns with the company’s shift from experimentation to implementation of AI solutions for enterprise clients. OpenAI estimates it now serves roughly one million business customers and reports 800 million weekly ChatGPT users, underscoring the scale of its user base and the importance of a robust revenue framework.

Implications for OpenAI and the Industry

The hiring signals OpenAI’s intent to accelerate its enterprise transformation and expand its market reach. By leveraging Dresser’s experience scaling category‑defining platforms at Slack and Salesforce, OpenAI aims to make its AI offerings more useful, reliable, and accessible for businesses worldwide. Industry observers note that the addition of a CRO at this stage reflects growing confidence in AI’s commercial viability and the company’s ambition to capture a larger share of the corporate AI market.

Outlook

OpenAI’s leadership expressed optimism that Dresser’s expertise will help drive the next phase of growth. The company’s ongoing expansion, combined with a substantial enterprise customer base and high weekly usage of its flagship product, positions it to capitalize on increasing demand for AI solutions in the workplace. As Dresser assumes her role, stakeholders will watch how OpenAI translates its technology leadership into sustained revenue growth and broader enterprise adoption.