The company's first business hire and longtime chief operating officer is leaving to build something new after leading OpenAI's commercial expansionBrad Lightcap, the executive who arguably did more than anyone outside Sam Altman to build OpenAI into a commercial force, is leaving the company. After nearly ten years and a string of roles that took him from first business hire to CFO to COO, Lightcap announced his departure on August 11, 2026, to launch a new venture. From first hire to the exit doorLightcap joined OpenAI in 2018, coming from Y Combinator where he had worked as an investor. AdvertisementFrom that starting point, he built out OpenAI’s go-to-market operation, took on the CFO role, and eventually became COO, overseeing everything from major partnerships to the OpenAI Startup Fund. Why this matters for OpenAIWhat Lightcap is building next has not been disclosed beyond the broad description of starting something new.