Sarah Murray takes top comms job at Aussie AI start up

Zeno Group has appointed Ekta Thomas as Managing Director, Australia, marking her return to lead the agency's Australian business after serving in a regional leadership role.

In her new role, Ekta will focus on business development, client relationships, and expanding the agency's integrated communications capabilities in Australia. She will also continue to support multi-market business opportunities and client relationships across APAC.

Ekta has been at Zeno Group for more than eight years and previously led its Australian business before becoming Head of Business Development, APAC. Her experience includes market leadership, client management, and business development across multiple markets.

David Lian, Regional President, Asia Pacific, said: "Ekta knows Zeno Australia from the inside out and brings the added advantage of having spent the past several years driving growth and building relationships across our regional and global network.

"Her appointment brings together the local leadership, commercial experience and broader perspective needed to take our Australian business forward. We see significant opportunity to build on our strengths, deepen our client partnerships, and bring more of Zeno's integrated capabilities to the Australian market. Ekta is exceptionally well-placed to lead that ambition."

Jill Hazelbaker will join OpenAI as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, leading the company’s global communications and corporate positioning to strengthen trust and public understanding of AI.

Jill joins from Uber, where she served as President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and oversaw the company’s global communications, marketing, public policy, safety, and people teams.

She brings close to two decades of experience advising technology companies and political leaders, having worked at organisations including Google and Snap.

Greg Brockman, Co-Founder & President of OpenAI, said: “As AI becomes part of more people’s lives, how we communicate, engage, and earn public trust has never been more important.

”Jill brings exceptional judgment, seasoned leadership, and a deep understanding of the opportunities and responsibilities that come with building technology at global scale. She’s exactly the kind of leader we need for this next chapter, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to OpenAI.”

Jill added: “AI represents the most profound technological shift of our lifetime. The stakes are enormous, the possibilities are extraordinary, and the work of building public trust has never been more consequential. I could not be more excited to work alongside Sam, Greg, and the outstanding team they’ve assembled to help OpenAI meet the moment.”

Meshlin Khouri has joined the education sector at UNSW Australia as Executive Director, Strategic Communications. She has finished nearly six years at Organon Asia Pacific as Associate Director Policy and External Affairs. Prior to this, Meshlin worked in-house across the pharmaceutical, finance and business consulting sectors.