OpenAI's enterprise sales head Barret Zoph exits

What happened

Barret Zoph departed OpenAI after returning to the company in mid-January following a brief stint as co-founder and CTO of Thinking Machines Lab. OpenAI confirmed his departure; Zoph posted a goodbye message in the company's internal Slack channels.

Why it matters

Zoph's role was significant — shortly after his return, OpenAI said he would lead its push into enterprise, a stated key revenue driver as the company prepares for its planned IPO and has pledged to stop pursuing what it calls "side quests." His departure suggests turbulence in that initiative. Zoph had originally left OpenAI in fall 2024 for Thinking Machines Lab, co-founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, but departed that role abruptly in January 2026 following reports of alleged misconduct involving an undisclosed workplace relationship.

What to watch

Zoph was one of three Thinking Machines Lab employees who returned to OpenAI together in January 2026 — the others were Luke Metz and Sam Schoenholz — suggesting the group move was coordinated. OpenAI's ability to retain and execute on its enterprise strategy remains unclear.