OpenAI Names Barret Zoph to Lead Enterprise Push Amid Shifting Market Share

Leadership Change Signals New Direction

OpenAI has reorganized part of its leadership team by appointing Barret Zoph to lead its push into selling AI to business customers. The decision, reported by The Information and confirmed by TechCrunch, places Zoph at the helm of the company’s enterprise strategy. Zoph previously served as vice president of post‑training inference at OpenAI from September 2022 to October 2024 before leaving for Thinking Machine Labs, a startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. He returned to OpenAI last week, bringing experience from his recent role as co‑founder and CTO at Thinking Machine Labs.

Enterprise Focus Amid Competitive Pressure

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Enterprise in 2023, more than a year before Anthropic and several years before Google introduced its own enterprise offerings. The product claims more than 5 million business users and counts companies such as SoftBank, Target, and Lowe’s among its customers. Despite these achievements, OpenAI’s share of enterprise large‑language‑model usage has declined. According to a Menlo Ventures report, OpenAI’s market share dropped from 50% in 2023 to 27% at the end of 2025. In contrast, Anthropic holds a dominant 40% share, while Google’s Gemini adoption grew modestly from 20% in July to 21% at year‑end.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Plans

OpenAI’s renewed emphasis on enterprise sales is underscored by a multi‑year partnership with ServiceNow, which will give ServiceNow customers access to OpenAI models. CFO Sarah Friar highlighted enterprise growth as a priority for 2026 in a recent blog post. The leadership shift and partnership expansion suggest OpenAI is seeking to reclaim lost ground and solidify its position in the competitive AI market.

Market Landscape and Competitive Dynamics

Anthropic’s rapid ascent in the enterprise space, supported by significant venture backing, has positioned it as the clear leader in large‑language‑model usage for business applications. Google’s Gemini, while not growing as quickly as Anthropic, remains a steady competitor. OpenAI’s internal concerns about Gemini’s encroachment were noted in a memo from CEO Sam Altman, reflecting the company’s awareness of the shifting competitive dynamics.

Looking Ahead

With Barret Zoph now steering the enterprise effort, OpenAI aims to leverage its existing customer base, expand strategic alliances, and reverse the decline in market share. The company’s next steps will likely focus on enhancing ChatGPT Enterprise capabilities, deepening integrations with partners like ServiceNow, and differentiating its offerings from those of Anthropic and Google.