Chicago-based Clayco has named former OpenAI executive Zack Kass to its Board of Advisors as the design firm looks to invest in more data-driven decision-making and the implementation of artificial intelligence in its operations.
In a June 16 press release, Clayco founder and executive chairman Bob Clark praised Kass’ 14-year career in technology innovation and praised his “unique perspective on AI adoption, business transformation and human potential.” Clark added that Kass, OpenAI’s former Head of Go-to-Market from 2021-2023, has been “at the center of one of the most transformative technological movements in modern history.”
The parent company of popular generative AI tool ChatGPT, OpenAI has an estimated private valuation of up to $852 billion after a record $122 billion funding round this year that was backed by tech giants Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, CNBC reported.
Kass is a leading corporate advisor on how to do just that “Responsibly leveraging AI to improve long-term performance, innovation and competitiveness,” said Clayco. He has held teaching positions in The McIntire School of Business at the University of Virginia and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and is also an AI Conservation Fellow at Conservation International.
“I have spent much of my career focused on the digital world and the future of intelligence, but I have always been fascinated by the people who shape the physical world around us,” Kass said in a statement about his appointment.
In a June 16 blog post, Clark explained that in a keynote speech at the 2025 Clayco Compute Retreat, “his ability to make complex ideas practical, understandable and immediately actionable stood out.” The length of Kass’ tenure on Clayco’s board of advisors was not disclosed.
Amid an intensive artificial intelligence boom, Clayco launched the new Clayco Compute business unit last year as a company focused solely on providing end-to-end services to meet the speed and demands of “hyperscale” data projects.
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In May, the company announced it would partner in a multidisciplinary consortium led by Swiss-American energy company Deep Atomic to potentially create the country’s first nuclear-powered data center.
Clayco was ranked No. 5 on ENR’s list of 100 design delivery companies, with just under $7 billion in revenue.
“Artificial intelligence will fundamentally change how businesses operate, how projects are delivered and how value is created across industries,” Clark said.
