Nubank's Founder and BNY's CEO Just Joined OpenAI's Boards!

Hey everyone, it's Shii-chan! Today's story isn't about technology itself, but about the people helping steer OpenAI.

OpenAI News openai.com

What was announced?

This comes from OpenAI News. David Vélez and Robin Vince have joined the boards of both the OpenAI Foundation and OpenAI Group PBC. David is the founder, Chairman, and Global CEO of Nubank, recognized as the largest digital bank in Latin America. Robin is Chairman and CEO of BNY, a major financial services company.

Why it matters

OpenAI is expanding its services for both businesses and individuals, working to reach more people and companies around the world. At this stage, adding two leaders who understand both finance and technology, and who bring deep experience in governance and running institutions, is a meaningful move.

David founded Nubank in 2013 after experiencing firsthand the cost and complexity of traditional banking in Brazil, and built it into a digital financial services platform with more than 135 million customers. Nubank is now expanding beyond Latin America into the United States, having secured conditional approval to establish a U.S. national bank. Before founding Nubank, he was a partner at Sequoia Capital focused on Latin America, and worked in investment banking and growth equity at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and General Atlantic.

Robin leads BNY, a financial services company with a history spanning more than 240 years. Since becoming CEO in 2022, he has led a broad re-imagination of the company: simplifying its operating model, accelerating investment in AI and data, and strengthening its culture of innovation. Before joining BNY, he spent 26 years at Goldman Sachs, where his roles included Chief Risk Officer, Treasurer, Head of Operations, COO of the EMEA region, and CEO of Goldman Sachs International Bank.

What changes

Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI Foundation and OpenAI Group PBC Boards, said: "David and Robin are exceptional leaders who have used technology to reshape financial services and expand opportunity at global scale. Their experience will be invaluable as OpenAI serves more businesses and people around the world."

David said technology can be a powerful force for expanding access and opportunity when it's built around people's needs and grounded in trust, while Robin said AI can be the ultimate capacity creator for people and institutions, and that realizing its promise requires creativity, strong governance, and responsible deployment.

Both have strong track records in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership too, which should add depth to the OpenAI Foundation's nonprofit work as well.

Wrap-up

• David Vélez (founder, Chairman, and CEO of Nubank) and Robin Vince (Chairman and CEO of BNY) have joined the boards of the OpenAI Foundation and OpenAI Group PBC
• Both bring track records of reshaping financial services with technology, plus deep governance and institutional experience
• The move strengthens OpenAI's governance bench as it expands services for businesses and individuals

If you're following how OpenAI is building out its governance and leadership, this one's worth a read.