Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart since 2021, is stepping down to join OpenAI as its new CEO of Applications. In this role, she will oversee the development and delivery of OpenAI’s consumer-facing products, reporting directly to CEO Sam Altman.
“Let me start by saying this was an incredibly hard decision because I love this company. We are operating incredibly well as our last earnings results have shown. Our strategy is working and this team is top notch, which makes it very hard to leave,” she wrote in an email to employees.
Simo will remain in her current position at Instacart for the next few months to facilitate a smooth transition. The company plans to appoint her successor soon, likely selecting from its existing senior leadership team. After stepping down as CEO, Simo will continue to serve as Chair of Instacart’s Board of Directors.
Her departure comes amid Instacart's strong financial performance. The company recently forecasted second-quarter core profits above Wall Street expectations. However, the announcement led to a 2.1% drop in Instacart's stock price during premarket trading.
Simo's move to OpenAI underscores the company's focus on expanding its consumer applications. Her extensive experience at Meta and Instacart positions her to lead OpenAI's efforts to bring AI technologies to a broader audience. Before joining Instacart, Simo spent a decade at Facebook (now Meta), where she served as head of the Facebook app and led major initiatives in video, advertising, and product development. At Instacart, she oversaw the company’s expansion from grocery delivery into technology and retail media services, guided it through a successful IPO, and helped position it as a key player in the broader retail tech ecosystem.
