OpenAI reshapes global policy team as AI regulation and infrastructure scale
Ann O’Leary
Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer at OpenAI, took to LinkedIn to announce a set of senior policy leadership changes as the company expands its government, regulatory, and workforce engagement.
OpenAI develops large-scale artificial intelligence systems used across education, work, research, healthcare, and public services. As its models and tools are deployed more widely, the company is increasing its policy capacity to address regulation, infrastructure investment, and economic impact in the United States and globally.
Lehane framed the changes as a response to the pace of technological scale, writing, “Big news for our policy team and our company as we continue to scale up the team to keep up with the scaling of the technology.”
Global policy leadership added amid accelerating AI regulation
As part of the changes, Ann O’Leary is joining OpenAI as Vice President of Global Policy, a role that places her at the center of the company’s engagement with governments and regulators as AI policy develops across jurisdictions.
Ann O’Leary, Vice President of Global Policy at OpenAI, confirmed the move on LinkedIn, writing, “I’m excited to share that I’m joining OpenAI as Vice President of Global Policy.”
She highlighted the stakes of the role, adding, “AI policy is moving quickly, and the decisions being made right now will shape how this technology shows up in people’s lives for years to come: in schools, workplaces, hospitals, and communities around the world.”
O’Leary’s background spans state and federal government, national crisis response, and social policy, with a focus on public trust, equity, and long-term impact. In her post, she emphasized the need for durable frameworks, writing, “Getting those rules right matters, not just for innovation, but for the public trust that makes innovation possible and supports AI as a positive force for good around the globe.”
Federal affairs role elevated as congressional scrutiny grows
Alongside the global policy appointment, Matt Rimkunas has been promoted to Head of Federal Affairs, where he will lead OpenAI’s engagement with Congress and the U.S. administration.
Rimkunas brings more than two decades of experience in federal policy, including senior roles on Capitol Hill and at Breakthrough Energy. His work has focused on technology, national security, energy, and complex legislative negotiations.
Lehane pointed to Rimkunas’s experience navigating federal institutions and building teams, positioning the role as central as AI policy debates intensify in Washington.
AI infrastructure and jobs strategy formalized
OpenAI has also created a dedicated leadership role focused on the economic and workforce implications of AI infrastructure. Erin Hodges will lead the company’s U.S. Reindustrialization and Jobs Initiative, which links AI compute investment with job creation and regional economic development.
The initiative focuses on how data centers, energy infrastructure, and AI-related construction can support local employment, protect ratepayers, and align with national industrial policy.
Erin Hodges, Lead of the U.S. Reindustrialization and Jobs Initiative at OpenAI, wrote on LinkedIn, “Thank you Chris Lehane and Chan Park for the opportunity to lead OpenAI’s U.S. Reindustrialization & Jobs Initiative.”
She added, “This work matters deeply to communities across the country as we ensure AI-driven growth translates into real jobs and shared economic opportunity.”
Hodges brings experience from Texas state government and statewide policy advocacy, with a background in aligning private-sector investment with public policy objectives.
Taken together, the appointments signal a broader shift as OpenAI balances research leadership with governance, infrastructure, and labor considerations. O’Leary framed that responsibility in her LinkedIn post, writing, “We have a real opportunity to get ahead of the curve and put thoughtful, durable frameworks in place that allow responsible innovation to thrive while ensuring the public is protected.”
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