OpenAI: HR Chief Departs to Pursue AI-Driven Storytelling

OpenAI’s Chief People Officer, Julia Villagra, has announced her departure from the company to pursue a new and unique venture: using art and storytelling to help people understand the complex transition to artificial general intelligence (AGI). The move, confirmed in an internal message to employees, comes just months after Villagra was promoted to her senior leadership role.

Villagra, who joined OpenAI in February 2024 as the head of human resources, was elevated to the position of Chief People Officer in March 2025. According to a message obtained by Reuters, her decision to leave was driven by a new passion to "help people better understand the transition to AGI" through creative mediums like music and visual art.

A Transition in Leadership
With Villagra's departure, OpenAI is preparing for a leadership change in its human resources division. Her duties will be temporarily overseen by Jason Kwon, the company’s Chief Strategy Officer. The search for a permanent replacement will be a key task for OpenAI’s newly appointed CEO of applications, Fidji Simo.

The departure comes at a pivotal moment for the company as it works to mature its internal structures and prepare for the next phase of its growth. Villagra’s unique reason for leaving highlights the deep ideological and creative pull that AGI is having on those who work closest to it, with some choosing to leave traditional corporate roles to explore its broader societal implications.