OpenAI taps Airbnb exec as first EMEA managing director

Marill previously led financial services and automotive industry at Facebook and Instagram.

OpenAI has hired Airbnb’s former European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) lead Emmanuel Marill as its first EMEA managing director, as the company continues to expand globally with an initial public offering in sight.

Marill, who led Airbnb’s EMEA, Australia and New Zealand operations for a number of years, also previously worked with Meta as their financial services and automotive industry lead for Facebook and Instagram.

Marill’s appointment reflects “strong momentum in EMEA”, OpenAI said. He will be based in Paris and report to chief strategy officer Jason Kwon. He will also collaborate with OpenAI’s EU headquarters in Dublin, which currently has around 80 employees.

“As demand for ChatGPT and Codex continues to grow rapidly all over the world, we are investing significantly in our international leadership and operations”, Kwon said.

Marill added: “There’s real momentum across EMEA, with many countries here leading globally in adoption of AI.”

OpenAI has had a tougher time in Europe than in the US. The company faces increasing regulatory pressures from EU officials, as well as resistance from businesses over digital sovereignty.

However, the company said that weekly active ChatGPT users in the EMEA region have grown by 70pc since last year, with Germany, France, the UK and Spain among its top markets for ChatGPT and Codex.

On its home turf in the US, OpenAI faces an even bigger challenge from the likes of Anthropic, which is fast encroaching on the company’s clientele.

Anthropic appointed long-time technology executive Pip White as the head of its UK, Ireland, Northern Europe and Israeli operations last November.

OpenAI reportedly plans to double its headcount by the end of the year. Late last year, Bloomberg reported that OpenAI and its rival Anthropic were both looking to expand their office footprints in their Dublin headquarters.

Meanwhile, OpenAI also announced its first permanent London office for next year with a capacity of more than 500. The announcement came despite an indefinite hold on the company’s plans for a Stargate UK over energy costs and regulatory burden.

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