Srinivas Narayanan, CTO for B2B applications at OpenAI, will leave the company at the end of next week, closing a three-year tenure marked by rapid product development and scale.
In a public note, Narayanan described his time as “an incredible journey that felt more like ten years,” adding that the timing aligned with a wave of recent and upcoming product launches.
He stated that the decision allows him to step back after a period of sustained intensity.
From Engineering Lead to CTO Role
Narayanan joined OpenAI in April 2023 as vice president of engineering and moved into the CTO role for B2B applications in September 2025.
During this period, he led teams building core platforms, including ChatGPT and the company’s API infrastructure. He noted that these systems were developed without established frameworks, requiring rapid iteration and execution at scale.
His role placed him at the center of OpenAI’s enterprise-facing growth, where demand expanded alongside the broader adoption of AI tools.
A Career Spanning Big Tech and Startups
Before OpenAI, Narayanan spent more than a decade at Meta, where he served as vice president of engineering.
His earlier experience includes roles at IBM and Tavant Technologies, along with co-founding Viralizr.
He studied at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Personal Decision Drives Exit
Narayanan said he plans to return to India to spend time with family before deciding his next steps.
He described the move as a pause rather than a transition into another role, with a focus on being present with his aging parents.
The decision introduces a rare personal dimension into a leadership shift at a company operating under intense global attention.
Exit Comes Amid Broader Leadership Changes
His departure follows a series of leadership movements at OpenAI, including exits linked to projects such as Sora and shifts within research and engineering teams.
These changes come at a time when the company continues to expand its product stack and operational footprint.
India and Asia-Pacific Emerge as Strategic Focus
OpenAI’s roadmap increasingly centers on international markets, particularly India and the Asia-Pacific region.
India has become one of the company’s fastest-growing markets, with more than 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users reported.
The company plans to open offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru in 2026. It has also launched the “OpenAI for India” initiative and formed partnerships with the Tata Group and JioHotstar to expand infrastructure and content capabilities.
In parallel, Kiran Mani has been appointed managing director for Asia-Pacific operations, based in Singapore.
Transition Aligns with Expansion Phase
Narayanan’s exit arrives during a phase where OpenAI is scaling both geographically and commercially.
Leadership changes at this stage reflect a shift from rapid build-out to structured expansion, where roles, responsibilities, and regional focus continue to evolve.
The departure closes a chapter defined by speed and experimentation, while the company moves into a phase shaped by scale and global integration.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Srinivas Narayanan
