JB Straubel may return to Tesla as board member this time

Tesla has nominated JB Straubel, the corporate’s former CTO and now operating its personal enterprise, Redwood Supplies, as its subsequent impartial board member.

the corporate stated a editor filing On Thursday, Straubel, if elected by shareholders (which is sort of sure), will take over the place vacated by Hiromichi Mizuno, the previous chief funding officer of Japan’s $1.5 trillion pension fund. Mizuno joined the board and audit committee in 2020 and won’t run for reelection.

Straubel, who joined Tesla in 2004 and served as CTO for 14 years, was largely seen because the quiet and regular hand behind its controversial CEO, Elon Musk. Straubel’s function in Tesla can’t be underestimated. The supervisor was liable for among the firm’s most necessary applied sciences, particularly concerning batteries. His humble however regular presence and technological acumen supplied stability even when his CEO was embroiled in controversy.

Throughout his tenure at Tesla, Straubel led the development and idea of the Gigafactory Nevada and the manufacturing ramp of the Mannequin 3 sedan.

Straubel left Tesla in 2019. Drew Baglino, vice chairman of expertise, took over his duties. On the time, Tesla stated Straubel would stay within the senior advisor function.

After leaving the automaker, Straubel devoted himself to scaling Redwood Supplies, a battery supplies provider and recycler based in 2017. In numerous high-profile shopper offers with firms like Panasonic and Amazon.

Tesla’s shareholders assembly shall be held on Might 16.