Fidji Simo

Fidji Simo
Fidji Simo
Born	5 10, 1985
Birthplace	Sète, France
Nationality	French, American
Occupation	CEO of Applications at OpenAI
Known for	CEO of Instacart (2021–2025), Head of the Facebook app, Co-founder of the Metrodora Institute
Education	HEC Paris UCLA Anderson School of Management
Children	1
Awards	Fortune Most Powerful Women (2023), Fortune 40 Under 40 (2021), TIME 100 Most Influential People in AI (2025)

Fidji Simo (born 5 October 1985) is a French-American technology executive serving as the CEO of Applications at OpenAI, where she oversees the development and commercialization of ChatGPT and the company's consumer-facing products. Before joining OpenAI in 2025, Simo spent a decade at Facebook (now Meta Platforms), rising to become head of the Facebook app — one of the most senior positions at the company — and subsequently served as CEO of Instacart from 2021 to 2025, guiding the grocery delivery company through its initial public offering. Outside of her corporate roles, Simo co-founded the Metrodora Institute, a health clinic and research institute focused on neuroimmune diseases, and serves as president of the Metrodora Foundation. She holds board positions at Instacart and Shopify. Her career trajectory — from a small Mediterranean city in southern France to the upper echelons of Silicon Valley — has made her one of the most prominent executives in the technology industry.

Early Life

Fidji Simo was born on 5 October 1985 in Sète, a port city on the Mediterranean coast of southern France. Details about her family background and upbringing in Sète have been discussed in various profiles, though she has generally kept her early personal history relatively private in public interviews. Growing up in the south of France, Simo later pursued higher education that would take her first to Paris and then to the United States, a path that would define her professional career in the technology sector.

Education

Simo attended HEC Paris, one of France's most prestigious grandes écoles and business schools. She subsequently pursued graduate studies in the United States at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the graduate business school of the University of California, Los Angeles. Her education at both institutions provided her with a foundation in business strategy and management that she would later apply during her career at Facebook and Instacart.

Career

Facebook (2011–2021)

Simo joined Facebook (now Meta Platforms) around 2011, beginning what would become a decade-long tenure at the social media company. Over the course of her time at Facebook, she rose through the ranks to become one of the company's most senior executives. She played a significant role in building Facebook's advertising business, which grew to generate tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue.

During her time at Facebook, Simo held positions of increasing responsibility. She was recognized as a mobile innovator for her work on advertising and product development at the company. She was also named to Fast CompanyTemplate:'s Most Creative People list in 2017, reflecting her growing influence in the technology industry.

Simo ultimately became the head of the Facebook app, a role that placed her in charge of the core product used by billions of people worldwide. In this capacity, she oversaw the main Facebook application, making her one of the highest-ranking executives at the company. Her departure from Facebook in 2021 was a notable loss for the company, as she had been instrumental in the platform's product direction and revenue generation.

In a 2025 interview with Fortune, Simo reflected on her time at Meta, noting that during her tenure, the team did not adequately anticipate the risks associated with AI-powered products. She stated that this experience informed her approach at OpenAI, where she has prioritized addressing mental health concerns and safety measures in consumer AI products.

Instacart (2021–2025)

In July 2021, Simo was announced as the new CEO of Instacart, the online grocery delivery and pick-up platform. She succeeded Apoorva Mehta, the company's founder, who transitioned to the role of executive chairman of the board before later stepping down as chairman following the company's IPO.

Her appointment came at a pivotal time for Instacart. The company had experienced rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers shifted to online grocery ordering. As CEO, Simo was tasked with sustaining that growth and preparing the company for its next phase of development.

Under Simo's leadership, Instacart expanded its technology and advertising offerings for grocery retailers and consumer packaged goods companies. She guided the company through its initial public offering, a milestone that had been anticipated for several years. Simo also joined the board of directors of Shopify, the e-commerce platform, during her tenure at Instacart, further broadening her influence in the technology and commerce sectors.

Simo's leadership at Instacart was recognized by Comparably, which named her among the best CEOs for large companies in 2023. She remained as CEO until 2025, when she departed to join OpenAI while retaining a seat on Instacart's board of directors.

OpenAI (2025–present)

On May 7, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that Simo would join the company in the newly created role of CEO of Applications, reporting directly to Altman. In this position, Simo oversees OpenAI's consumer-facing products, including ChatGPT, with a mandate to expand the platform's utility and drive the company toward profitability.

Prior to joining as an employee, Simo had served on OpenAI's board of directors. She stepped down from the board upon assuming her executive role at the company.

Simo's appointment attracted significant attention in the technology industry. The Wall Street Journal reported that Simo and Altman had bonded over a shared dislike of standing meetings and a mutual preference for eliminating unnecessary organizational overhead. TIME magazine subsequently named Simo to its inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI in 2025, citing her appointment and the scope of her responsibilities at one of the world's most prominent artificial intelligence companies.

In July 2025, shortly before officially transitioning from Instacart, Simo sent a memo to OpenAI staff laying out her vision for the company and the potential of AI to transform various aspects of daily life. WIRED described the memo as striking a "hyper-optimistic tone" about the future of AI applications.

One of Simo's first priorities at OpenAI was addressing safety and mental health concerns related to ChatGPT, particularly for younger users. She oversaw the addition of parental controls to ChatGPT teen accounts and indicated that further mental health safeguards were forthcoming. Simo stated that her experience at Meta, where she felt the team had not sufficiently anticipated the risks of AI-driven products, directly influenced her emphasis on responsible product development at OpenAI.

Simo's broader mission at OpenAI centers on making ChatGPT indispensable to users across a range of tasks — from health information to shopping to professional work — while building a sustainable revenue model for the company. This dual focus on utility and monetization represents one of the central challenges facing OpenAI as it scales its operations.

Metrodora Institute

Outside her corporate career, Simo co-founded the Metrodora Institute, a health clinic and research institute focused on neuroimmune diseases. The institute's name is derived from Metrodora, a Greek physician from antiquity who is believed to have authored the oldest surviving medical text written by a woman.

The Metrodora Institute was established to address what Simo identified as significant gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of complex neuroimmune conditions, including conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and long COVID. The institute functions both as a clinical facility, providing direct patient care, and as a research center investigating the underlying mechanisms of neuroimmune disorders.

Fortune profiled Simo's work with the Metrodora Institute in 2021, noting her personal motivation for founding the organization. The publication later named her among its Health & Wellness Innovators in 2023. Simo serves as president of the Metrodora Foundation, the charitable arm of the institute.

In 2025, Simo discussed the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare in a conversation with Dr. Mark Hyman, explaining how AI tools could help shift healthcare from a model centered on treating symptoms to one focused on proactive health management.

Personal Life

Simo has one child. She has been involved in various cultural and philanthropic activities. She has served on the board of the L.A. Dance Project, a contemporary dance company based in Los Angeles.

Simo's personal experience with health challenges has been cited as a primary motivation for co-founding the Metrodora Institute. She has spoken publicly about how encountering the limitations of the healthcare system in diagnosing and treating complex conditions drove her to establish a dedicated clinical and research institution.

Her connection to her French heritage remains evident in her public profile. Born in the Mediterranean coastal city of Sète, Simo has navigated a career that took her from France to the epicenter of the American technology industry, ultimately holding leadership positions at three of the most prominent companies in Silicon Valley.

Recognition

Throughout her career, Simo has received numerous accolades and recognitions from major business and technology publications.

In 2017, Fast Company named her to its Most Creative People in Business list during her tenure at Facebook. She was also recognized by Adweek as a mobile innovator shaping the future of advertising, reflecting her contributions to Facebook's mobile advertising platform.

In 2021, Fortune included Simo on its annual 40 Under 40 list, recognizing her appointment as CEO of Instacart and her broader impact on the technology industry.

In 2023, Simo received several notable recognitions. Fortune named her to its Most Powerful Women list, placing her among the most influential female executives globally. That same year, Fortune recognized her as a Health & Wellness Innovator for her work with the Metrodora Institute. Comparably also named her among the best CEOs of large companies in 2023, based on employee ratings and satisfaction surveys.

In August 2025, TIME magazine included Simo on its inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in AI, citing her role as CEO of Applications at OpenAI and the scope of her responsibilities in shaping the future of consumer AI products.

Board Memberships

Simo has held several corporate and non-profit board positions during her career. She serves on the board of directors of Instacart, the company she led as CEO from 2021 to 2025. She also holds a board seat at Shopify, which she joined during her tenure at Instacart. Prior to joining OpenAI as an employee, she served on OpenAI's board of directors.

In the non-profit sphere, Simo has been a board member of the L.A. Dance Project. She also serves as president of the Metrodora Foundation.