Background and Career Path

Denise Dresser has spent 14 years at Salesforce, holding a series of executive roles within the company’s enterprise sales organization before being appointed chief executive officer of Slack in 2023. During her tenure, she oversaw the rollout of several large‑scale AI features, including AI‑generated meeting summaries and integrations with Salesforce’s AI agents.

Transition to OpenAI

OpenAI confirmed that Dresser will assume the role of chief revenue officer, where she will manage the company’s enterprise unit—a segment that has been growing rapidly. She will report directly to chief operating officer Brad Lightcap and is expected to begin her duties shortly after her departure from Slack.

Strategic Rationale

OpenAI’s leadership stressed that Dresser’s background in scaling AI‑enabled tools for enterprise customers aligns with the company’s goal of putting AI into the hands of millions of workers across every industry. The firm’s chief executive highlighted her prior success in driving adoption of AI features and her capability to make AI “useful, reliable, and accessible for businesses everywhere.”

Implications for Slack and Salesforce

Following Dresser’s exit, Rob Seaman, Slack’s chief product officer, will serve as interim CEO of the collaboration platform. The change marks a further shift in leadership after a series of executive moves within the Slack and Salesforce ecosystem.

Industry Context

The appointment reflects a broader trend of AI companies recruiting seasoned executives from large technology firms to accelerate enterprise adoption. Dresser’s move from a major enterprise software provider to an AI‑focused organization underscores the growing convergence of AI capabilities with traditional business software solutions.

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