OpenAI, TikTok, and Calm Executives Exit or Take Leave Amid Rising Burnout

Fidji Simo, a key executive at OpenAI, has taken medical leave amid a broader executive shake-up at the AI company, highlighting ongoing leadership transitions in the tech sector.

This development comes as high-profile departures ripple through major tech firms. At TikTok, advertising leader Khartoon Weiss is stepping down, marking the latest in a wave of American executives exiting the short-form video platform over the past year, according to Bloomberg. Such moves reflect intensifying pressures in competitive digital advertising markets, where leaders face regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical tensions surrounding TikTok's Chinese ownership.

In a parallel story from the wellness industry, David Ko, CEO of Calm—the world's leading app for sleep, meditation, and mindfulness—has announced he is stepping down after years of scaling the company. As reported by Fast Company, Ko detailed the relentless C-suite demands, including burnout and the challenge of maintaining personal well-being while leading a mental health-focused business. His tenure, which began around 2022, saw Calm achieve cultural milestones like celebrity endorsements, yet he emphasized the toll of constant high-stakes decision-making.^[2][3]

Ko's insights into executive strain resonate broadly. In a Fortune survey he referenced, nearly half of business leaders reported feeling overwhelmed, with 48% citing burnout symptoms like anxiety, depression, or mental drain, and 40% admitting to lacking mental presence at work.^[5] Over half contemplated quitting, with Ko likening most leaders' energy levels to a 20% charged battery—a stark metaphor for hidden exhaustion in high-pressure roles.^[5]

These exits underscore vulnerabilities at the top of tech and wellness companies, where rapid growth often collides with personal limits. Employees, investors, and users are affected: TikTok advertisers may face uncertainty in leadership continuity, while Calm's millions of subscribers wonder about strategic direction post-Ko. OpenAI's shake-up, involving Simo's leave, signals potential internal restructuring that could influence its AI development pace amid fierce competition from rivals like Google and Anthropic.

What happens next remains unclear. TikTok has not named Weiss's replacement, continuing a pattern of high turnover among U.S. executives.^[1] Calm, bolstered by Ko's healthcare background, is likely to prioritize steady leadership to sustain its dominance in the $5 billion wellness app market.^[1][4] For OpenAI, Simo's absence—tied to medical reasons—raises questions about interim arrangements and the company's stability as it navigates ethical AI debates and product rollouts.

This cluster of leadership changes matters because it reveals a tech ecosystem grappling with sustainable executive health. As Ko noted in interviews, normalizing mental health discussions in workplaces could prevent such waves of departures, benefiting companies and their teams long-term.^[4][5] Stakeholders will watch closely for how these firms adapt.