OpenAI Head of Data Centers Chris Malone left the company last week, joining a string of executives who have recently departed the firm, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
According to Malone's LinkedIn page, he joined OpenAI in March 2025 after serving as a "distinguished engineer" at both Meta and Google. During his tenure at Google, he worked on the tech giant's data center infrastructure, IT hardware design, and power distribution.
Malone's departure comes as OpenAI continues to expand its computing infrastructure. In July, WSJ reported that OpenAI had raised its projected spending on computing power to around $750 billion through 2030, up from its previous projection of $600 billion.
Earlier this month, OpenAI secured roughly 8 gigawatts of capacity at the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus in Pike County, Ohio, with NVIDIA as the AI compute infrastructure provider.
Recent departures
The AI firm has seen a wave of leadership departures in recent months. Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser and Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap also left earlier this month. In July, Fidji Simo, OpenAI's product and business chief, stepped down from her full-time role to become an advisor.
The departures also come as OpenAI works toward an IPO. In June, the company confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission. OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said in an internal all-hands meeting last week that the company "will be a public company in 2027," according to CNBC.