# OpenAI Names Former Cursor Executive to Lead EMEA Sales

By Sonny Jang

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/people/28103
Published: 2026-10-08T13:27:04.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-08T13:27:04.000Z
Section: People

> Ismail Elmas will oversee sales across Europe, the Middle East and Africa as OpenAI expands its enterprise operation in the region.

OpenAI has appointed Ismail Elmas as vice president of sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, putting him in charge of the company’s regional sales organization as it seeks more enterprise customers.

Elmas will be based in Munich and oversee sales operations across the region. Employees working in EMEA sales will report to him.

Before joining OpenAI, Elmas served as senior vice president for EMEA at Cursor. He began building Cursor’s regional business April 1, and more than 100 people were hired during that expansion.

“OpenAI has changed the way people work and how companies operate,” Elmas said. “AI creates enormous opportunities for companies in Europe.”

The appointment makes Elmas the second senior sales executive connected to Cursor to join OpenAI in about a month. OpenAI hired Brian McCarthy as vice president of worldwide sales in September.

Elmas previously held senior roles at Rubrik and Zscaler. His background includes enterprise software sales and security-sensitive deployments, experience relevant to companies that often require lengthy procurement processes before adopting new technology.

OpenAI’s EMEA sales organization will operate across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where the company is pursuing broader commercial adoption. The region includes markets with different purchasing requirements, giving the sales team responsibility for managing a wide range of enterprise customers and deployments.