OpenAI, the leading artificial intelligence research lab dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, has announced the appointment of Nigerian-born billionaire and senior business executive, Adebayo Ogunlesi, to its board of directors.
Ogunlesi, a Senior Managing Director at BlackRock, brings decades of experience to the position. Beyond his role at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with $11.475 trillion in assets under management, Ogunlesi also serves on the boards of Topgolf Callaway Brands, Kosmos Energy Holdings, and Terminal Investment Ltd.
A private equity veteran, Ogunlesi is a founding partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a premier infrastructure investment firm acquired by BlackRock in 2024 for $12 billion. Prior to establishing GIP in 2006, he spent 23 years at Credit Suisse, where he held various leadership roles.
Speaking on his appointment, Ogunlesi said:
“The rapid advancement and development of AI offers a unique opportunity to build a better future. Thoughtful strategies and investment in infrastructure will be key to unlocking AI’s full potential and delivering its benefits responsibly. I’m excited to contribute to this effort and look forward to being a part of the OpenAI Board.”
This strategic move highlights OpenAI’s continued evolution toward a for-profit structure. Ogunlesi’s addition comes as the board undergoes significant changes following the dramatic events of late 2023, when CEO Sam Altman was briefly ousted before being reinstated.
Notable figures such as Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce and ex-chairman of Twitter, and Larry Summers, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary, joined the board during the aftermath of Altman’s reinstatement. Taylor now serves as OpenAI’s board chair.
Ogunlesi’s expertise in global investments and infrastructure is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping OpenAI’s future as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving AI industry.
