![\"\"](\".\/media_1ac293bfbb75358e2d201610c1b1d300de342f6f9.jpg?width=750&format=jpg&optimize=medium\")
<\/p>\n\u2018After more than two decades building and leading partner ecosystems, I\u2019m excited to share that I\u2019ve joined OpenAI to help shape and scale its global partner ecosystem,\u2019 says Philip Larson, Google Cloud\u2019s now former managing director of its Partner Network.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
OpenAI continues to win over Google Cloud\u2019s top partner executives as OpenAI hires<\/a> Google Cloud\u2019s Partner Network managing director, Philip Larson, who has shaped some of the tech world\u2019s largest partner programs including those at VMware and Snowflake.<\/p>\n Larson is now tasked with leading OpenAI\u2019s newly launched Partner Network<\/a> as senior director of the OpenAI Partner Network<\/a>, in charge of everything from channel incentives to partner enablement.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter more than two decades building and leading partner ecosystems, I\u2019m excited to share that I\u2019ve joined OpenAI to help shape and scale its global partner ecosystem,\u201d said Larson in a LinkedIn post Monday. \u201cI’m energized by the team I\u2019ve joined.\u201d<\/p>\n Larson\u2019s departure from directing Google Cloud\u2019s global partner program comes just a few months after Google Cloud\u2019s global partner program leader, Colleen Kapase, left to join OpenAI<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kapase is now OpenAI\u2019s channel chief as vice president of strategic global partnerships and ecosystems.<\/p>\n [Related: Anthropic\u2019s 5 Huge Hires From OpenAI, Google, Microsoft And xAI In 2026<\/a>]<\/p>\n Both Larson and Kapase were instrumental in the creation and launch of Google Cloud\u2019s new partner program, which went live in January.<\/p>\n Google did not immediately respond for comment on the matter.<\/p>\n OpenAI\u2019s New Director: \u2018The Opportunity Is Unparalleled\u2019<\/p>\n In June, OpenAI<\/a> unveiled its inaugural OpenAI Partner Network backed by $150 million in funding.<\/p>\n \u201cAcross VMware, Google Cloud and Snowflake, I\u2019ve seen that the best partner programs are not defined by their complexity,\u201d Larson said on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are defined by the customer outcomes they accelerate\u2014helping partners co-sell, co-deploy, and build differentiated, durable customer solutions around transformational technology,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is the work I\u2019m excited to continue at OpenAI\u2014helping partners translate the extraordinary pace of AI innovation into meaningful, measurable impact for customers around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Larson said he is tasked with leading the strategy, design, launch and global operations of the OpenAI Partner Network with the goal of enabling partners to co-sell, co-deploy and build AI solutions with OpenAI.<\/p>\n He is accountable for partner strategy, partner programs, partner incentives, partner operations and partner enablement\u2014including the partner experience, program structure and tiering, benefits and funding, training, badges and specializations.<\/p>\n Larson could not be reached by press time.<\/p>\n OpenAI\u2019s partner program officially goes live this month.<\/p>\n \u201cThe opportunity is now, and the opportunity is unparalleled,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Larson\u2019s Google, Snowflake And VMware Channel History<\/p>\n Larson was managing director of the Google Cloud Partner Network for over two years, playing a critical role in building and deploying Google\u2019s new Partner Network<\/a> and partner portal this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not just an update; it\u2019s a complete transformation,\u201d Larson told CRN in an interview in January.<\/p>\n Larson told CRN that from recruiting and on-boarding to enablement and training to joint business planning, marketing, demand generation, delivery, co-sell, services, support\u2014everything inside Google Cloud\u2019s new program was \u201cgetting revolutionized by AI.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to Google Cloud<\/a>, Larson was at Snowflake for nearly five years in the role of senior director of the Snowflake Partner Network.<\/p>\n Larson led the design, rollout and management of the Snowflake Partner Network program and portal.<\/p>\n Before Snowflake, Larson had an 18-month stint at Google Cloud as head of worldwide partner programs and enablement from 2018 to 2019, when the company was just formalizing its channel strategy.<\/p>\n From 2010 until 2018, Larson held top channel program roles at VMware when the virtualization giant had over 80,000 partners globally.<\/p>\n He was responsible for the worldwide partner programs that comprise the VMware Partner Network.<\/p>\n One top executive from a Google Cloud partner told CRN he was saddened by the departure of Larson.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a loss for Google\u2019s partner community for sure,\u201d said the executive, who wished to not be identified. \u201cLarson was at all the [Google Cloud] events. He was in the spotlight. He did a lot of good things for partners like us and others.\u201d<\/p>\n The executive said he\u2019s becoming more interested in joining OpenAI\u2019s partner program now more than ever as OpenAI invests millions in hiring top-notch channel talent and launching the OpenAI Partner Network.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking to see right now what the requirements are needed from us. Still in the early stages with that, but we see that OpenAI understands now that the channel is the way to scale,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll probably get some training soon and see what the opportunities are.\u201d<\/p>\n The New OpenAI Partner Network<\/p>\n OpenAI\u2019s inaugural partner program is a three-tier program with specializations, such as OpenAI Codex<\/a>, that opens huge enterprise AI sales opportunities for skilled, AI-focused solution providers, Kapase told CRN last month.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a massive opportunity for any partner out there,\u201d said Kapase.<\/p>\n