OpenAI hires former Roblox executive Arvind KC as chief people officer

OpenAI said Tuesday it has appointed Arvind KC as chief people officer, tapping the former Roblox Corp. executive to oversee hiring, orientation and employee development as the ChatGPT maker continues to expand.

KC will report to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon, according to an OpenAI spokesperson. The artificial intelligence startup is currently raising a funding round expected to bring in more than $100 billion, and has recently taken steps toward a public listing.

KC’s hire follows turnover in the role. In August, OpenAI Chief People Officer Julia Villagra left the company, kicking off the search for a replacement. Villagra’s departure coincided with a step-up in competition for top AI talent in Silicon Valley, with labs and tech giants vying for experienced engineers and executives.


KC has held senior roles at Roblox, Google, Palantir Technologies and Meta Platforms, OpenAI said, describing him as combining engineering experience with managerial expertise. In a statement about the hire, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s chief executive officer of applications, said, “We believe the way we scale OpenAI should reflect the future we’re helping to create.”