Brad Lightcap, head of special projects at OpenAI, is set to depart.

According to a report from The Information, Brad Lightcap, head of special projects and former chief operating officer (COO) of OpenAI, is set to leave the company. Over the past year, Lightcap’s internal responsibilities at OpenAI have undergone multiple adjustments, with his latest role being leading "special projects". A long-time core member of OpenAI’s management team, Lightcap shifted from his COO position to lead special projects in early 2026 during an executive reshuffle, overseeing cross-company matters including complex transactions and strategic investments, and reporting directly to CEO Sam Altman. His departure comes as OpenAI continues to expand its commercialization efforts, advance enterprise business and strategic partnerships. The company has previously implemented multiple rounds of organizational restructuring, including transferring some COO responsibilities to other executives. Brad Lightcap joined OpenAI in 2018, and prior to that held roles at Y Combinator and JPMorgan Chase. He was one of the key operations and business leaders during OpenAI’s transition from a research institute to a commercial AI company.