Fidji Simo, the French woman, is a key figure in the AI sector together with Sam Altman.
Fidji Simo, the French AI Powerhouse, Ascends to CEO Role at OpenAI
By Sabrina Guintini (Published on)
Born in a small French coastal town, Fidji Simo, the daughter of a fisherman and trader, didn't seem destined for the tech world’s elite. But fate had other plans. As reported by Les Echos, this Frenchwoman has been named as the new Application CEO at OpenAI, a trailblazing AI-focused company based in California. She will collaborate closely with Sam Altman, the company's continued general director.
Simo's impressive journey began at the tender age of 16, when she earned her baccalaureate and subsequently enrolled at HEC Paris. A short stint at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) followed, where she seized an opportunity to intern at eBay. Spurred by ambition, she made a bold move and sent an unsolicited application to Facebook in 2011.
Swiftly noticed, Simo rapidly climbed through the ranks at Facebook. With the backing of Sheryl Sandberg, she successively oversaw the video, games, and mobile advertising divisions before ascending to the coveted position of Facebook App Director—a pivotal role where even Mark Zuckerberg himself lauded her talents. In 2021, she took on a new challenge as CEO at Instacart, an American home delivery grocery platform, during its post-Covid growth phase.
Under her leadership, Instacart became not only profitable but also diversified its income streams through advertising. Now a public company, her undeniable skill and tenacity are once again on full display. Simo's impressive run isn't stopping anytime soon, as she prepares for her new role as Application CEO at OpenAI.
Simo's appointment at OpenAI comes a year after she joined its board of directors. Having already made a mark in product management and monetization at Meta—where she led the introduction of ads on Facebook's News Feed and managed product development for Facebook Video—she appears ideally suited for this role[2][3].
At OpenAI, Simo will report directly to Sam Altman and focus on ensuring that the company's groundbreaking research delivers genuine societal benefits by leading the Applications team, which unites various business and operational units[2][3]. With over 500 million weekly users utilizing ChatGPT currently, the potential to make a tangible impact is immense.
Simo's impressive tenure at Instacart, which culminated in its successful public offering in 2023, is further evidence of her acumen in growing businesses and managing operations[2]. This appointment at OpenAI underscores the company's strategic approach to broadening its business reach with exceptional leaders[3].
Now, as Simo prepares to take on her new position at OpenAI, she also readies her succession at Instacart by remaining as the company's board president. It's clear that this accomplished Frenchwoman shows no signs of slowing down in her quest to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
With her extensive experience in product management and monetization, Fidji Simo, the new Application CEO at OpenAI, will focus on ensuring that the company's artificial intelligence research delivers tangible societal benefits, collaborating closely with Sam Altman. By leading the Applications team at OpenAI, she aims to combine various business and operational units, potentially making a significant impact as over 500 million weekly users currently utilize ChatGPT.
