OpenAI has appointed Denise Dresser, currently chief executive officer of Slack, as its new Chief Revenue Officer, marking a significant leadership move as the company sharpens its focus on enterprise adoption and long term monetisation. The appointment comes at a time when OpenAI is expanding beyond research driven innovation toward building sustainable commercial models around its AI platforms and services.
Dresser will be responsible for overseeing OpenAI’s global revenue strategy, including enterprise sales, partnerships and customer expansion. Her role is expected to align OpenAI’s rapidly growing product portfolio with structured go to market execution, as demand for generative AI tools continues to rise across industries. OpenAI said the appointment reflects its intent to strengthen commercial leadership while maintaining its focus on responsible AI development.
Dresser brings extensive experience in scaling enterprise software businesses. At Slack, she played a key role in expanding the platform’s enterprise footprint and deepening relationships with large organisations. Her background includes senior leadership roles across sales, operations and customer success, making her well positioned to guide OpenAI through its next phase of growth as businesses increasingly integrate AI into core workflows.
OpenAI’s products have seen rapid adoption across developers, startups and large enterprises. Tools built on its models are being used for customer support automation, software development assistance, content creation, data analysis and internal productivity. As adoption accelerates, OpenAI faces the challenge of translating widespread usage into predictable and scalable revenue streams. The creation of a dedicated Chief Revenue Officer role signals a more formalised approach to monetisation.
Industry analysts note that generative AI companies are entering a new stage of maturity. Early growth was driven largely by experimentation and developer enthusiasm. The current phase is defined by enterprise deployment, longer term contracts and higher expectations around reliability, security and governance. Leadership with experience in enterprise SaaS is increasingly viewed as critical to navigating this transition.
Dresser’s appointment also highlights the convergence between collaboration platforms and AI driven tools. Slack has been at the centre of workplace communication, while OpenAI’s technologies are increasingly being embedded into daily work processes. Her experience at Slack provides insight into how AI products can be positioned as essential productivity infrastructure rather than standalone tools.
OpenAI has been expanding its enterprise offerings, including APIs, developer tools and customised solutions for large organisations. The company has also introduced pricing tiers and subscription models aimed at different user segments. With Dresser leading revenue operations, OpenAI is expected to refine these offerings and strengthen relationships with enterprise customers seeking long term AI partners.
The appointment comes amid growing competition in the AI market, as technology companies race to secure enterprise clients and differentiate their platforms. Pricing, reliability and support have become key factors influencing adoption decisions. OpenAI’s leadership has acknowledged the importance of balancing rapid innovation with commercial discipline, particularly as AI infrastructure costs continue to rise.
OpenAI has stated that its mission remains centred on ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits humanity. At the same time, the company has recognised the need for sustainable revenue to support ongoing research and infrastructure investment. The Chief Revenue Officer role is intended to support this balance by building revenue models that align with long term goals.
Dresser’s move also underscores OpenAI’s focus on leadership with operational scale experience. As the company grows, managing customer relationships, compliance requirements and regional expansion becomes more complex. Her background in managing global teams and enterprise accounts is expected to help OpenAI navigate these challenges.
The appointment may also influence how OpenAI structures partnerships with software vendors, system integrators and cloud providers. Enterprise AI adoption often depends on ecosystem collaboration, and revenue leadership plays a central role in shaping these relationships. OpenAI’s growing presence in enterprise environments increases the importance of coordinated go to market strategies.
Market observers see the move as a signal that OpenAI is preparing for a more competitive and commercially driven phase of growth. While innovation remains a core differentiator, execution in sales and customer engagement is becoming equally important. The addition of a Chief Revenue Officer reflects this shift in priorities.
OpenAI has not disclosed specific revenue targets or timelines associated with the appointment. However, the company has indicated that enterprise demand continues to grow across sectors including technology, finance, healthcare and education. As organisations seek to integrate AI into production systems, revenue leadership will play a key role in shaping how these services are delivered and supported.
Dresser’s appointment adds to a series of leadership decisions aimed at strengthening OpenAI’s organisational structure as it scales globally. With generative AI moving from novelty to necessity in many workplaces, the company is positioning itself to compete not only on technical capability but also on commercial execution.
As OpenAI enters this next phase, the focus is shifting toward long term relationships, predictable revenue and enterprise trust. The appointment of Denise Dresser as Chief Revenue Officer reflects the company’s intent to build a durable business foundation while continuing to push the boundaries of AI innovation.