OpenAI Hires EMEA Sales Chief to Drive Revenue
OpenAI has hired a new sales chief for its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) hub based in Dublin. The move signals an intensified focus on commercial expansion and monetization of its AI technology, which has been described as its biggest challenge. The new leadership is expected to build out regional partnerships and enterprise sales efforts.
- The new sales chief is Sanj Bhayro, who started in January 2026 and previously held senior roles at Asana, Intercom, Google, and Salesforce, where he was COO for EMEA. - OpenAI’s Dublin office was established in 2023 and currently employs 60 people, with plans to expand the team by filling an additional 18 roles. This hub serves as the data controller for users in the European Economic Area and Switzerland, ensuring compliance with GDPR. - The company's revenue reached an annualized $20 billion in 2025, a significant increase from $3.7 billion in 2024. Despite this, OpenAI is not yet profitable, with a projected operating loss of $8 billion in 2025 as it invests heavily in infrastructure and research. - The hiring is part of a larger European enterprise push, including a recent global alliance with consulting firm CGI to help clients deploy ChatGPT Enterprise securely. - In January 2026, OpenAI launched "OpenAI for Europe," an initiative to expand partnerships with European governments on national AI priorities like education, health, and cybersecurity. - To boost adoption among smaller businesses, the company started an SME AI Accelerator in partnership with Booking.com, aiming to train 20,000 European SMEs in using AI.
