Recently, OpenAI announced the appointment of Mike Liberatore, former Chief Financial Officer of xAI, as its new Business Finance Officer. According to a report by CNBC on September 16, Liberatore's LinkedIn profile shows that his latest position is responsible for business financial management at OpenAI. His tenure at xAI lasted only four months; previously, he served as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development at Airbnb.

According to reports, Liberatore will report to OpenAI's current Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, and work with Greg Brockman's team, which is responsible for managing contracts and funding behind the company's computing strategy.

The Wall Street Journal mentioned that during his time at xAI, Liberatore was involved in several financing activities, including a $5 billion debt issuance in June. He also oversaw the expansion of a data center in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. However, the exact reason for his departure remains unclear.

Liberatore's appointment is the latest example of high-level departures at xAI. Last month, xAI's General Counsel, Robert Keele, announced his resignation, citing differences in vision with Musk. Additionally, Raghu Rao, a senior lawyer responsible for the company's business and legal affairs, also left around the same time. Meanwhile, Igor Babuschkin, a co-founder of xAI, also announced his departure last month to start his own venture capital firm.

Notably, Liberatore's appointment comes amid a major restructuring at OpenAI. OpenAI recently announced that its non-profit division will "pair" with its Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), which has a valuation exceeding $100 billion. Additionally, the company announced a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft, aiming to transform its profitable division into a PBC. This structural change was first announced by OpenAI in May.

Key Points:

🌟 Liberatore serves as OpenAI's Business Finance Officer, responsible for managing funds and contractual matters.

📉 His tenure at xAI was short, during which he participated in a $5 billion debt issuance and the expansion of a data center.

🔄 OpenAI is currently undergoing a major restructuring, with its non-profit division merging with a Public Benefit Corporation.