OpenAI, Copilot scoop up ex-Facebook execs Fidji Simo, Mark D’Arcy
Two execs who pioneered industry-changing ad initiatives at Facebook have just taken leading roles at OpenAI and Microsoft Copilot.
What these two hirings mean is that we're about to enter a very interesting period of time in the development of advertising on AI platforms.
OpenAI tapped Fidji Simo for a new CEO role leading applications. Before she took Instacart into an IPO as its CEO, Fidji helped lead the launch of ads in the Facebook news feed and eventually rose to become the head of the entire Facebook app.
She's whip smart and passionate. I'm excited to see what's next for OpenAI's applications - and its ad product development - under her leadership.
At Microsoft, Copilot is hiring Mark D'Arcy to lead creative marketing efforts. When he was chief creative officer at Facebook, he helped advertisers get used to creating ads for social feeds and he played a major role in transitioning Facebook advertisers into mobile advertising.
As AI companies push deeper into commerce and advertising they will need leaders who know the ad business and who can inspire teams to think big and develop innovative, groundbreaking products. Just like a little startup called Facebook did.
