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OpenAI Appoints BlackRock Executive Ogunlesi to Board

Jan 14, 2025 - financialpost.com
OpenAI has appointed Adebayo Ogunlesi, a senior managing director at BlackRock Inc., to its board of directors. Ogunlesi, who became a billionaire after BlackRock acquired his company, Global Infrastructure Partners, for about $12 billion, brings significant experience in infrastructure investments. His expertise is expected to aid OpenAI as it seeks to expand its data centers and energy resources to support advanced AI development. The appointment comes as OpenAI pushes for public and private sector support for infrastructure projects, emphasizing the need to maintain the US's competitive edge over China in AI.

The addition of Ogunlesi expands OpenAI's board to 10 directors, including notable figures like CEO Sam Altman and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo. This move is part of OpenAI's broader strategy to restructure from a nonprofit research organization into a public benefit corporation, a change that could attract investors but requires careful coordination with regulators. The company recently released an "economic blueprint" for AI, highlighting the necessity of infrastructure investments. Ogunlesi's appointment is seen as pivotal as OpenAI navigates these strategic shifts.

Key takeaways:

  • OpenAI has appointed BlackRock executive Adebayo Ogunlesi to its board of directors, leveraging his infrastructure investment experience.
  • Ogunlesi joined BlackRock after it acquired his company, Global Infrastructure Partners, for about $12 billion, making him a billionaire.
  • OpenAI is focusing on expanding data centers and energy resources to support AI development and released an "economic blueprint" for AI investments.
  • The company is considering restructuring from a nonprofit research organization into a public benefit corporation, which would require board and regulatory cooperation.
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