Companies
Clayco Recruits Former OpenAI Exec Zack Kass as Board Advisor
Design-build firm says Kass will advise on implementing artificial intelligence into more contracting operations
A globally recognized artificial intelligence strategist, Kass was Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI from 2021 to 2023.
Chicago-based Clayco has appointed former OpenAI executive Zack Kass to its board of advisors as the design-build firm looks to invest in more data-driven decision-making and implementation of artificial intelligence across its operations.
In a June 16 press release, Clayco Founder and Executive Chairman Bob Clark cited Kass’ 14-year career in tech innovation and his “unique perspective on AI adoption, business transformation and human potential.” Clark added that Kass, the former head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI from 2021 to 2023, has been “at the center of one of the most transformative technology movements in modern history.”
The parent company of generative AI tool ChatGPT, OpenAI has an estimated private valuation of up to $852 billion after a record-breaking $122 billion funding round this year that was backed by tech giants Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, CNBC reported.
Kass is a leading corporate adviser on how to "responsibly leverage AI to improve performance, innovation and long-term competitiveness," Clayco said. He has held teaching roles at University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and also is AI Conservation Fellow at Conservation International.
“I've spent much of my career focused on the digital world and the future of intelligence, but I've always been fascinated by the people who shape the physical world around us,” said Kass in a statement about his appointment.
In a June 16 blog post, Clark recounted that in a keynote speech at the 2025 Clayco Compute Retreat, Kass' "ability to make complex ideas practical, understandable and actionable immediately stood out.” The length of his term on Clayco’s board of advisors was not disclosed.
Amid an intensifying AI boom, Clayco launched new business unit Clayco Compute last year as a venture solely focused on offering end-to-end services to meet the speed and demands of “hyperscale” data projects. In May, the firm announced it would partner in a consortium led by Swiss-American energy company Deep Atomic that said it aims to potentially create the country's first nuclear-powered data center.
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Clayco is ranked No. 5 on ENR’s Top 100 Design Delivery Firm list, reporting just over $7 billion in revenue.
"Artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape how businesses operate, how projects are delivered and how value is created across industries," said Clark.
