Slack CEO Denise Dresser Moves to OpenAI as Chief Revenue Officer

Key Points

  • Denise Dresser leaves Slack to become chief revenue officer at OpenAI.
  • She brings over 14 years of experience from Salesforce and Slack, including AI feature launches.
  • At OpenAI, Dresser will lead enterprise revenue strategy and customer success.
  • OpenAI’s applications chief, Fidji Simo, praised Dresser’s AI leadership background.
  • Rob Seaman, Slack’s chief product officer, will serve as interim CEO of Slack.

Slack CEO Denise Dresser to join OpenAI as chief revenue officer

Background

Denise Dresser spent over 14 years at Salesforce, the parent company of Slack, before taking the helm as CEO of Slack. During her tenure at Slack, she oversaw the introduction of several artificial‑intelligence features, positioning the collaboration platform as a forward‑looking tool for modern workplaces.

New Role at OpenAI

OpenAI announced that Dresser will become its chief revenue officer, responsible for shaping the company’s revenue strategy in the enterprise segment and guiding customer success initiatives. The appointment follows a report by Wired and was later confirmed by OpenAI in a blog post. Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, said Dresser’s track record of leading AI‑driven shifts makes her well‑suited to help OpenAI deliver AI tools to millions of workers across industries.

Implications for OpenAI

With Dresser at the revenue helm, OpenAI aims to strengthen its enterprise foothold and improve the reliability and accessibility of its AI offerings. The role is seen as pivotal for OpenAI’s goal of turning its advanced AI technologies into profitable, widely adopted business solutions.

Leadership Changes at Slack

The departure of Dresser from Slack triggers a reshuffle in its leadership. Rob Seaman, Slack’s chief product officer, will step in as interim CEO, ensuring continuity while the company navigates the transition.

Industry Context

Dresser’s move reflects a broader trend of seasoned tech leaders shifting between major AI and collaboration platforms. Her previous experience at Instacart, a close partner of OpenAI, underscores the interconnected nature of the tech ecosystem as companies seek to integrate AI more deeply into everyday workflows.

Source: techcrunch.com