OpenAI has announced the appointment of Uday Ruddarraju as its new infrastructure and computing chief, a critical role as the company embarks on an ambitious expansion of its technological backbone. Ruddarraju, who joined OpenAI in 2025 and became its Chief Technology Officer for Compute in July 2026, succeeds Sachin Katti, who will transition to an advisory role within the company.
Leading OpenAI's Compute Expansion
In his new capacity, Ruddarraju will oversee the extensive infrastructure and computing resources essential for the development and operation of OpenAI's advanced AI models. This includes a significant push to expand data center capacity, aligning with CEO Sam Altman's stated vision for multi-trillion-dollar investments in physical infrastructure.
The appointment comes at a time of notable leadership changes within OpenAI's data center and infrastructure teams, including recent departures like Chris Malone and Peter Hoeschele. OpenAI is actively reorganizing its infrastructure operations as it continues to build out its global data center network.
Ruddarraju's Extensive Background
Uday Ruddarraju brings over a decade of experience in the field, having held senior positions at prominent technology companies including eBay, xAI, and Robinhood before joining OpenAI. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from the Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) in Hyderabad, India, and a Master of Science in Computer from the University of Minnesota in the United States.
His previous role at OpenAI involved close collaboration with the infrastructure group's engineering, construction, and technical teams, providing him with a deep understanding of the company's existing infrastructure projects and operational dynamics. This familiarity is expected to ensure a seamless transition into his new leadership responsibilities.
Outgoing chief Sachin Katti expressed confidence in the transition, stating, "I’m proud of what we’ve built and have total confidence in Uday and the team to carry it forward." Katti also indicated his personal anticipation for "building something new" within the company.