OpenAI Hires Former Slack CEO

OpenAI has executed a power move, snagging former Slack CEO Denise Dresser to spearhead their revenue growth ambitions.
The appointment signals OpenAI’s aggressive enterprise expansion just as companies are scrambling to integrate AI into their most critical business operations.
OpenAI announced yesterday (Dec. 9) that Dresser will oversee their global revenue strategy across enterprise and customer success, reporting directly to COO Brad Lightcap. Rob Seaman steps in as interim Slack CEO.
Dresser brings heavyweight credentials at exactly the right moment. Her 14-year tenure at Salesforce included building global sales organizations for the company’s most complex enterprise clients before becoming Slack CEO in 2023. During her leadership, she guided Slack through major AI feature rollouts and helped redefine how millions of workers use AI for workplace efficiency, OpenAI revealed in their announcement.
Why this matters
The enterprise AI market is doing well, and Dresser’s appointment comes at a good time. OpenAI disclosed that over one million business customers now actively pay for their enterprise AI solutions—a milestone that represents organizations using ChatGPT for Work or consuming models through their developer platform.
Recent Wharton research shows 75% of enterprises report positive returns on AI investments, while less than 5% see negative returns. Workers using AI are saving 40-60 minutes daily, with power users reclaiming over 10 hours weekly, based on data OpenAI shared in their announcement.
Companies aren’t just experimenting anymore—they’re implementing AI across their most important processes and applications. This massive shift creates exactly the enterprise opportunity Dresser will now capitalize on with her deep understanding of workplace AI adoption.
Billion-dollar timing
Today’s landscape could prove Dresser’s value. Just hours after her appointment was announced, Accenture revealed a partnership bringing ChatGPT Enterprise to tens of thousands of employees across consulting and operations work.
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet emphasized the partnership will “accelerate enterprise reinvention and business outcomes,” showcasing exactly the large-scale integration Dresser will now orchestrate. The consulting giant is also deploying the largest workforce trained through OpenAI Certifications, demonstrating how enterprises are racing to build AI capabilities.
The companies launched a flagship AI client program combining OpenAI’s technology with Accenture’s industry expertise, designed to help organizations adopt AI agents faster and more comprehensively.
OpenAI’s dreams
The move also comes as OpenAI restructures toward potential public markets. CFO Sarah Friar confirmed seven months ago that their new corporate structure opens doors for a potential IPO.
Dresser’s enterprise expertise could prove crucial as OpenAI transforms from AI research lab to global business powerhouse ready for public investment.
OpenAI has dropped its first-ever “State of Enterprise AI” report, analyzing usage data from one million business customers and surveying 9,000 workers. 
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