Sarah Friar
Sarah Friar is Chief Financial Officer at OpenAI, a role she assumed in June 2024, making her the company's first-ever CFO at a pivotal moment in AI commercialization and global expansion. Her appointment signaled OpenAI's maturation from a research lab into a full-scale commercial enterprise, and she brings the financial rigor and operational credibility needed to navigate complex revenue models, massive infrastructure investment, and an evolving regulatory landscape. Her presence at OpenAI places her at the center of one of the most consequential technology buildouts in history. Prior to OpenAI, Friar served as CEO of Nextdoor, the neighborhood social network, where she led the company through its public listing via SPAC in 2021. Before that, she was CFO of Block (formerly Square), where she was instrumental in scaling the payments and fintech platform, earning a reputation as one of Silicon Valley's most capable financial executives. Her tenure at Square included overseeing its IPO in 2015 and driving investor confidence through a period of rapid product and geographic expansion. Friar's career reflects a rare combination of deep financial expertise and operational leadership across consumer technology, fintech, and now AI. She holds degrees from Oxford University and an MBA from Goldman Sachs-sponsored programs, and she is widely regarded as a board-level talent and strategic voice in the technology industry. Her work on monetization, data-driven platforms, and AI commercialization at OpenAI places her at the intersection of technology and the future of digital advertising and marketing ecosystems.
Last updated Oct 14, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team
AI-drafted from public sources5 sources cited
- Years in industry
- 20 years
Bio
Sarah Friar is Chief Financial Officer at OpenAI, a role she assumed in June 2024, making her the company's first-ever CFO at a pivotal moment in AI commercialization and global expansion. Her appointment signaled OpenAI's maturation from a research lab into a full-scale commercial enterprise, and she brings the financial rigor and operational credibility needed to navigate complex revenue models, massive infrastructure investment, and an evolving regulatory landscape. Her presence at OpenAI places her at the center of one of the most consequential technology buildouts in history. Prior to OpenAI, Friar served as CEO of Nextdoor, the neighborhood social network, where she led the company through its public listing via SPAC in 2021. Before that, she was CFO of Block (formerly Square), where she was instrumental in scaling the payments and fintech platform, earning a reputation as one of Silicon Valley's most capable financial executives. Her tenure at Square included overseeing its IPO in 2015 and driving investor confidence through a period of rapid product and geographic expansion. Friar's career reflects a rare combination of deep financial expertise and operational leadership across consumer technology, fintech, and now AI. She holds degrees from Oxford University and an MBA from Goldman Sachs-sponsored programs, and she is widely regarded as a board-level talent and strategic voice in the technology industry. Her work on monetization, data-driven platforms, and AI commercialization at OpenAI places her at the intersection of technology and the future of digital advertising and marketing ecosystems.
Career
Chief Financial OfficerCurrent
Roles with a cited source. All linked roles are in the Roles tab.
Expertise & education
Expertise
Education
- BA, Metallurgy, Economics & Management, University of Oxford
- MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Speaking topics
Recognition
Notable achievements
- Appointed OpenAI's first-ever CFO in June 2024, overseeing financial strategy at the world's leading AI company
- Led Square's IPO in 2015 as CFO, establishing it as a major public fintech company
- Guided Nextdoor through its public listing via SPAC in 2021 as CEO
- Named to Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business list multiple times
- Recognized as one of the most influential women in Silicon Valley finance and operations