OpenAI’s head of safety systems, Johannes Heidecke, is leaving the company following an internal reorganization that merges its safety and research teams under a single leader. It’s the latest in a string of high-profile safety departures that have become something of a recurring theme at the world’s most prominent AI company.
Heidecke announced his exit to staff in July 2026, just two years after stepping into the top safety role.
What happened inside OpenAI
The departure came alongside a broader structural overhaul. Chief Research Officer Mark Chen told staff in a memo that safety teams would now report to Mia Glaese, who has been elevated to the newly created position of VP of Research and Safety.
Instead of safety operating as its own distinct pillar, it’s being folded into the research organization. Saachi Jain will serve as interim head of safety systems while the company figures out its next permanent hire.
