OpenAI head of marketing Kate Rouch is stepping away for three months to undergo treatment for invasive breast cancer.
Rouch revealed the diagnosis came weeks into her new role. She’s been juggling chemo at UCSF while leading marketing for the past five months.
Gary Briggs, Meta’s former CMO, will step in as interim marketing head. Briggs worked with Rouch at Meta previously. 
Rouch joined OpenAI in December, after stints as Coinbase CMO and leading marketing at Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
Her prognosis is “excellent,” and she expects a full recovery.
On LinkedIn, Rouch shared a blunt warning about breast cancer risks:
Kate Rouch stated
“Earlier this year — just weeks into my dream job — I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.”
“For the past five months, I’ve been undergoing chemo at UCSF while leading our marketing team. It’s been the hardest season of life — for me, my husband, and our two young kids.”
“1 in 8 American women will get invasive breast cancer. 42,000 die every year. Rates are rising for young women. I’m sharing my story […] to get their attention and encourage them to prioritize their health over the demands of families and jobs. A routine exam saved my life. It could save yours too.”
