Update #1 - Another deep dive into Tesla's Board of Directors
And this time Grok has its say ♊
Ten months ago, you valued the initial in-depth analysis of Tesla's Board of Directors. Recent notable events have prompted this updated review:
First, JB Straubel replaced Hiromichi Mizuno as an independent director following the May 2023 shareholder election. JB is Tesla’s former Chief Technology Officer, bringing deep internal knowledge.
Additionally, new AI capabilities have enabled expanded insights. While the original analysis utilized ChatGPT 3.0, this current evaluation incorporates perspectives generated by xAI's conversational AI model, Grok, in the lower section of this write-up for each Member of Tesla’s Board.
Finally, with Tesla clearly positioned as a global leader in artificial intelligence, an investment in xAI is desired and should be discussed.
And while Tesla has yet to announce the 2024 shareholder meeting date, two Board seats will require reelection:
* James Murdoch, who joined the Board in 2017 and whose media industry expertise remains relevant in the current media environment.
* Kimbal Musk, Elon's brother, represents the second longest-tenured director. He brings hospitality industry insight and the obvious deep fraternal relation with Elon. We have learned a great deal about Kimbal Musk from the authorized biography written by Walter Isaacson, most particularly about his relationship with, and influence over Elon. There can be little doubt that he provides an important foil to Elon's spirited personality, and is a calming influence. This is a critical role for Tesla, and helps the Board maintain a strong cohesion given the mercurial nature of its genius CEO.
As shareholders evaluate Board composition, augmented AI expertise appears an advantageous area for potential enhancement given Tesla’s vanguard position in AI adoption. With innovations soon enabling in-vehicle gaming, optimizing operations via Dojo supercomputer neural nets, exploring AI safety via FSD, and more, supplementary Board-level AI experience would strengthen oversight of the company’s strategic direction.
With Tesla's rapid growth at the intersection of sustainable energy and AI, continuous board evolution remains vital. Below you will find detailed profiles of Tesla's current eight Board members, including insights generated by Grok on each director. The profiles overview key oversight responsibilities, professional backgrounds, honors received, Tesla stock owned, and links to social media presence for each member.
Five directors currently meet "independent" status. JB Straubel joined the Board this May after the 2023 shareholder meeting, bringing deep institutional knowledge as a Tesla co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer. As the newest addition, JB has yet to receive any committee appointments. Elon and Kimbal Musk serve as non-independent Board participants. In alignment with best practices, only independent directors hold seats on any of Tesla's four vital Board committees. Guidelines and charters for each can be found both on Tesla’s website and further detailed on page 194 of their most recent 2022 Impact Report.
Tesla's April 2023 Proxy Statement appendix (page 13) details a skills matrix outlining key areas of expertise represented across current Board members. Notably absent in the table is any indication of artificial intelligence capabilities, as excerpted below:
The matrix aims to provide shareholders visibility into the diverse specialized knowledge the Board offers to guide Tesla's global sustainable energy and technology leadership. While the caliber of insight listed remains impressively strong, the rapid integration of enhanced AI across the company's products and operations would suggest more direct AI experience may soon prove valuable.
It comes as welcome news that Tesla Board Chair, Robyn Denholm, joined the Board of Harrison.ai in July 2023. Harrison.ai is an Australian healthcare company utilizing artificial intelligence, indicating Ms. Denholm is expanding her experience governing organizations leveraging advanced AI.
This appointment and Elon Musk’s own xAI company founded in July 2023 align well with Tesla’s own development of AI across their products and operations. As conversations around AI ethics and regulations continue evolving, the Board members’ first-hand perspective on responsibly scaling AI startups will help shape a balanced relationship of xAI and Tesla, and will prove valuable in shaping Tesla’s own AI governance.
Tesla’s Board of Directors (December 2023)
Robyn M. DENHOLM, Chair of the Board, Independent Director
GROK:
Robyn Denholm is an Australian executive and the current chair of Tesla, Inc. She was born on May 27, 1963, in Milperra, New South Wales, Australia. Denholm has a background in finance and economics, having earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Sydney and a master's degree in commerce from the University of New South Wales.
Denholm has held several high-profile positions throughout her career. She served as the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy at Juniper Networks, a multinational corporation that develops and markets networking products. In 2017, she joined the telecommunications company, Telstra, as Chief Operations Officer.
In November 2018, Denholm was appointed as the chair of Tesla, succeeding Elon Musk in the role. In this position, she is responsible for overseeing the company's corporate governance and ensuring that the board of directors effectively fulfills its duties. Denholm is also an Operating Partner at Blackbird Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Australia, and serves as the Chair of the Technology Council of Australia.
In her personal life, Robyn Denholm is married and has a family. She is known for her dedication to her career and her commitment to promoting the growth of the technology industry in Australia.
Born on May 27, 1963 in Milperra, New South Wales, Australia.
Member of the Board of Directors of Tesla since August 2014, replaced Elon Musk as Chair in November 2018
Chair of both Audit and Disclosure Control Committee
Member of both Nominating & Governance Committee and Compensation Committee
Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Sydney
Master’s Degree in Commerce (1999) and Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) from the University of New South Wales (2019)
Member of the UNSW Business School Advisory Board
Member of the Board of Governors of Amcham (American Chamber of Commerce) Australia
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia & New Zealand
Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Chair of the Tech Council of Australia (since 2021)
Recognitions:
Steering Committee Member of the Wall Street Journal CFO Network since its inauguration
Board of Directors of Echelon Corporation (2008)
Institutional Investor’s All-America Executive Team Leadership and Investor Relations Award (2009)
Nomination on the Profiles in Diversity Journal Women Worth Watching list (2010)
Nomination to the list of Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence
Bay Area CFO of the Year finalist (2011)
Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa) from UNSW (2019)
Forbes Power Women #64 (2022) and #95 (2023)
UNSW Business School’s Winner of the Chancellor's Award for Exceptional Achievement (2022)
Since July 2023 Board Member of Harrison.ai, an Australian healthcare AI company
1984 - 1989 Arthur Andersen & Company, Australia
1989 - 1996 Toyota Motor Corporation, Australia
1996 - 2007 Sun Microsystems Inc
2007 - 2016 Executive VP, CFO and COO at Juniper Networks Inc.
2017 - 2019 CFO, Head of Strategy and COO at Telstra Corp Ltd., Australia
since Jan 2021 Operating Partner at Blackbird Ventures, a venture capital firm, working with the founders of later stage technology companies to help them scale and succeed
In 2022, Robyn Denholm’s family office (Wollemi Capital Group) purchased a 30% stake in the Sydney Kings and Sydney Uni Flames basketball teams.
Currently holds 15,000 Tesla shares.
LinkedIn, Twitter, CNBC Oct 2019
Elon R. MUSK, Technoking & CEO
GROK:
Elon Musk is a South African-born Canadian-American business magnate and entrepreneur. He is the founder of X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX, and Tesla Motors.
Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa.
He is known for his innovative and ambitious projects, such as developing reusable rockets, electric cars, and solar energy solutions.
Born on June 28, 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa
Member of the Board of Directors of Tesla since 2004, Chairman of the Board from 2004 - 2018
B.A. in Physics from University of Pennsylvania and B.S. in Business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (1997)
Recognitions
Member of the United States National Academy of Sciences -Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (2006)
Inc. magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year (2007)
George Low Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for “the most outstanding contribution in the field of space transportation in 2007/08”
National Wildlife Federation’s National Conservation Achievement Award (2008)
National Space Society’s Von Braun Trophy 2008/09
Time’s 100 people who most affected the world (2010)
FAI Gold Space Medal (2010)
Esquire magazine “One of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century”
“Living Legend of Aviation” by the Kitty Hawk Foundation (2010)
Forbes list of “America’s 20 Most Powerful CEOs 40 and Under” (2011)
Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization (2011)
Royal Aeronautic Society’s Gold Medal (2012)
Fortune’s Businessperson of the Year (2013)
Explorers Club’s “President’s Award for Exploration and Technology” (2014)
Edison Achievement Award (2014)
Honorary Doctorate in Engineering and Technology from Yale (2015)
IEEE Honorary Membership (2015)
Business Insider’s “Top 10 Business Visionaries Creating Value for the World” (2016)
Oslo Business for Peace Award (2017)
#25 on Forbes list of The World’s Most Powerful People (2018)
Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) (2018)
Time 100 Most Influential People in the World (2010, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2023)
Member of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn (2019)
Starmus Festival’s Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication (2019)
#1 on Forbes list of the “Most Innovative Leaders of 2019”
Top 100 most influential Africans by New African Magazine (2020)
Axel Springer Award (2020)
Fortune Magazine’s Business Person of the Year 2020
Financial Times Person of the Year 2021
Newsweek’s Hall of Fame (2021)
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2022
National Academy of Engineering Award (2022)
Order of Merit for Defense by the Brazilian Government (2022)
2023 IAF World Space Award
Nominated for The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (2023)
1995 - 1999 Co-Founder of Zip2 Corporation
1999 - 2000 Co-Founder and CEO of X.com / Paypal
Since May 2002 , Founder, CEO, CTO and Chairman of SpaceX
Since February 2004, early investor in Tesla (founded in 2003)
July 2006 - Nov 2016, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of SolarCity Corp.
2015 - 2018 Founder of OpenAI
Since 2016, Founder of The Boring Company
Since 2016, Co-Founder of Neuralink
April 2021 - June 2022 on Board of Directors of Endeavor Group Holdings Inc
Since October 2022 , initially Chief Twit, since May 2023 Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer at 𝕏 Inc.
Since July 2023, founder and Director at xAI.
Currently holds 411,051,576 Tesla shares.
Ira Matthew EHRENPREIS, Independent Director
GROK:
Ira Ehrenpreis is a prominent venture capitalist and a founding partner of DBL Partners, a leading impact investing venture capital firm. He has been recognized as one of the "Top 50 Most Influential Men Under 45" and was inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame in 2014. Ehrenpreis has served on the Board, Executive Committee, and as Annual Meeting Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). He is also the President of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC) and the Co-Chairman of the VCNetwork, the largest and most active California venture capital organization.
In addition to his work in venture capital, Ehrenpreis has served on the Board of Tesla Motors and has been an active leader at Stanford University, where he has served on the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School and is currently an advisory board member of the Stanford Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) and the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy (PIE) Advisory Council.
Born on Feb 11, 1969 in San Carlos, California, USA
Member of Tesla’s Board of Directors since 2007
Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee
Chair of the Compensation Committee
Ira holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude. And a JD/MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of Stanford Law Review.
Chairman of VC Network, the largest and most active venture capital organization in California (since 1997)
Member of the Board, Executive Committee and Annual Meeting Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association (2007 - 2011)
President of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists, the oldest venture capital organization in California (since 2009)
Member of the Advisory Board, External Advisory Council at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (since 2010)
Founder and Chairman of the World Energy Innovation Forum (since 2013)
Chairman of the Silicon Valley Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (SVIEF) (2014 - 2017)
Member of the Board of Directors at Mapbox (since 2015)
Member of the Precourt Institute Energy Advisory Council at Stanford University (since 2015)
Board Member and Board Observer at Apeel (since 2016)
Member of the Innovation Advisory Board at San Jose Earthquakes Soccer (since 2016)
Board Member at R-Zero (since 2020)
Member of the Board of Directors at Airspace (since 2022)
Served on several industry Boards, including
the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC),
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Advisory Council,
the Clean-Tech Investor Summit (Chairman for 9 years),
the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF) West (Co-Chairman for 10 years),
the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF) Wall Street (Co-Chairman for 5 years),
the Cleantech Venture Network (Past Chairman of Advisory Board),
ACORE (American Council on Renewable Energy) and
the Advisory Board of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE).
Recognitions
“Top 50 Most Influential Men under 45” (2007)
Inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (2014)
NACD’s (National Association of Corporate Directors) “one of the most influential leaders in the boardroom and corporate governance community” (since 2018)
NVCA Outstanding Service Award (National Venture Capital Association) (since 2018)
Japan Society of Northern California’s Visionary Award for Pioneering Leadership in Impact Investing and the Global Sustainability Community (2023)
Since 2009, Investor in SpaceX
Since 2014, Founder and Managing Partner of DBL Partners (venture capital investments to accelerate innovation with a positive social impact and healthy financial performance, currently managing over $1bn of capital), including investments in The Boring Company and SpaceX
Since 2015, Investor in Planet
Since 2015, Investor in AMS
Since 2015, Investor in The RealReal
Since 2016, Investor in ZOLA Electric
Since 2017, Investor in BrainScope
Since 2017, Investor in Andela
Since 2017, Investor in Farmer’s Business Network Inc.
Since 2019, Investor in Spatial
Currently holds 571,005 Tesla shares.
LinkedIn, Twitter, Stanford’s GCEP Symposium 2013, others
James Rupert Jacob MURDOCH, Independent Director
GROK:
James Murdoch, born on December 13, 1972, is the son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
He is a British-American businessman who has held various positions within his father's media empire, including serving as the CEO of 21st Century Fox
and as the Chairman and CEO of Sky.
In recent years, James has distanced himself from the family business and has been involved in philanthropic and environmental causes. He has also been active in the political arena, using his influence to support progressive and environmental concerns.
Born on December 13, 1972 in Wimbledon, London, GB
Member of Tesla’s Board of Directors since 2017
Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Disclosure Controls Committee
Member of the Board of GlaxoSmithKline plc (2009 - 2012)
Member of the Board of Sky plc (2007 - 2012)
Member of the Board of Sotheby’s (2010 - 2012)
Member of the Board of News Corporation (2013 - 2020)
Member of the Board of True[X] Media (2014)
Member of the Board of Twenty-First Century Fox (2017 - 2019)
Studied Film and History at Harvard University, dropped out in 1995 without completing his studies.
1995 - 2000 Co-Founder of Rawkus Records
1996 - 2005 SVP of News America Incorporated
2000 - 2003 CEO of STAR Group Ltd. (Asian subsidiary of News Corp)
2003 - 2007 Director, then CEO of British Sky Broadcasting
2007 - 2012 CEO of News International (Europe, Asia and Middle East)
2012 - 2013 Deputy COO of News America Incorporated
2013 - 2019 Co-COO, then CEO and Chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc (21CF)
Since 2019, Founder and CEO of Lupa Systems, a private investment company
Kimbal MUSK, Director
GROK:
Kimbal Musk is a South African entrepreneur, chef, and restaurateur. He is the brother of Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX. Kimbal Musk has made a name for himself in the culinary world, starting The Kitchen Restaurant Group, which includes restaurants in Colorado and Chicago.
Born on September 20, 1972, in Pretoria, South Africa, Kimbal grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. After completing his education at Queen's University in Canada, he joined his brother Elon in founding Zip2, a software company that was later sold to Compaq for $307 million in 1999.
In the early 2000s, Kimbal shifted his focus to the culinary world, opening his first restaurant, The Kitchen, in Boulder, Colorado. The Kitchen Restaurant Group has since expanded to include several other restaurants, such as Next Door American Eatery and Hedge Row American Bistro.
In addition to his work in the restaurant industry, Kimbal is a dedicated philanthropist. He founded Big Green, a nonprofit organization that builds outdoor learning gardens in urban schools. He also serves on the boards of several organizations, including Tesla and SpaceX.
Kimbal Musk has been recognized for his work as a chef and entrepreneur, receiving awards such as the Global Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018. With a net worth of around $700 million, he has established himself as a successful businessman and a prominent figure in the culinary world.
Born on September 20, 1972 in Pretoria, South Africa
Member of Tesla’s Board of Directors since 2008
Member of the Board of SpaceX (since 2003)
Member of the Board of Chipotle (2013 - 2019)
Studied Business at Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada (1995) and enrolled into the French Culinary Institute in New York City.
Recognition:
Global Social Entrepreneur by The Schwab Foundation (World Economic Forum’s sister organization) (2018)
1995 - 1999 Co-Founder of Zip2 Corporation
1999 - 2000 Co-Founder of X.com / Paypal
2006 - 2011 CEO of OneRiot (advertising network)
Since 2004, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of The Kitchen Restaurant Group
Since 2011, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Big Green (nonprofit)
Since 2016, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Square Roots Urban Growers
Currently holds 1,608,720 Tesla shares.
Kathleen WILSON-THOMPSON, Independent Director
GROK:
Kathleen Wilson-Thompson is a prominent American executive known for her work in the manufacturing and health industries. She has held key leadership positions in various companies, including Kellogg Company and Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Wilson-Thompson studied literature at the University of Michigan and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1979. She later pursued a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws in Corporate and Financial Law from Wayne State University.
In 2010, she joined Walgreens Boots Alliance as the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. She has also served on the boards of directors for Vulcan Materials Company and Tesla, Inc.
Throughout her career, Wilson-Thompson has been recognized for her achievements and contributions to the corporate world. In 2009, she was named one of The Top 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporation America by Black Enterprise magazine.
Born on September 17, 1957
Member of Tesla’s Board of Directors since 2018
Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee
Member of the Compensation Committee
Member of the Disclosure Controls Committee
Member of the Board at Vulcan Materials Company (2010 - 2019)
Member of the Board at Ashland (2017 - 2020)
Member of the Board at Wolverine World Wide (since 2021)
Member of the Board at McKesson Corporation (since 2022)
Member of the Board of the NAACP Foundation
B.A. in English Literature at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (1979) and both a Doctor of Law - JD at Wayne State University (1982) and a Master’s of Laws LLM, Corporate and Finance Law (1996)
Recognitions:
Admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America (2017)
Inducted as a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
Innovative Utility Patent (Hair Removal Apparatus) obtained in 2015
Crain’s Chicago Business Executive Leader (2019)
Black Enterprise Magazine’s “Top 300 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America” (2021)
Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” and “Most Influential Black Corporate Directors” (2021)
1992 - 2010 Corporate Counsel, VP and Chief Counsel, SVP Global Human Resources at Kellogg Company
2010 - 2014 SVP - Chief Human Resources Officer at Walgreens
2014 - 2021 Chief Human Resources Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance
Since 2022 Founder of KWT LLC, a human capital executive consulting firm
Currently holds 5,400 Tesla shares.
Joe GEBBIA, Independent Director
GROK:
Joe Gebbia is an American entrepreneur, designer, and philanthropist, best known as the co-founder of Airbnb, a global online marketplace for lodging and tourism experiences. Gebbia was born on August 21, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where he met Brian Chesky, with whom he would later co-found Airbnb.
In 2007, Gebbia and Chesky started the company that would become Airbnb in San Francisco. The idea for the company was born out of a need for affordable accommodation during a design conference in the city. Gebbia and Chesky rented out air mattresses in their apartment to conference attendees and provided them with a unique and affordable lodging experience. This experience inspired them to create a platform that would connect travelers with local hosts, providing an alternative to traditional hotels.
Since its founding, Airbnb has grown into a global company with millions of listings in over 191 countries. Gebbia served as the company's Chief Product Officer and was instrumental in its growth and success. In 2022, he stepped back from his day-to-day role at Airbnb but remains on the board and continues to chair its nonprofit arm, Airbnb.org.
Gebbia is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the Rhode Island School of Design and joined the board of Tesla in September 2022. In January 2022, he bought a minority stake in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.
Born on August 21, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
On Tesla’s Board of Directors since September 2022
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2005. Attended business-related classes at Brown University and MIT while attending RISD.
Member of the Board of Trustees at RISD (since 2013)
Member of the Advisory Council for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Member of the Leadership Council of the Malala Fund
Member of the Giving Pledge
Recognitions:
2009 BusinessWeek’s Top 20 Best Young Tech Entrepreneur
2010 Inc. Magazine’s Thirty-under-Thirty
2013 Fortune Magazine’s Forty-under-Forty
2021 America’s 50 Biggest Charity Donors
On Fast Company’s Most Creative People
2023 Forbes 400’s #96
2005 - 2007 Industrial Designer at Chronicle Books, San Francisco
2005 - 2010 Founder & Lead Designer CritBuns
Since 2007, Co-Founder of AirBnB.com (still on the Board of Directors as Advisor) and Chairman of AirBnB.org (nonprofit organization providing emergency housing in times of crisis)
Since 2017, Founder of Neighborhood (modular office furniture)
2020 Executive Producer of documentary films “Universe” and “Refugee Olympic Team at the Olympics”
Since 2022, Co-Founder of Samara (net-zero tiny houses)
Investor in The Helm (Female-founded VC fund) and Nebia (water saving showers)
Strategic Partner in the San Antonio Spurs investor group
LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Blog, Ted Talk and many more
JB (Jeffrey Brian) STRAUBEL, Independent Director
GROK:
JB Straubel is an American entrepreneur and business executive who co-founded Tesla, Inc., an electric vehicle and clean energy company. Straubel was born in 1975 in Wisconsin and studied at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Energy Systems Engineering and a Master of Science in Energy Engineering.
At Tesla, Straubel served as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and was responsible for the development of the company's electric vehicle technology. He played a key role in the development of the Tesla Roadster, the company's first electric car, and the Model S, its first mass-market electric car. Straubel also led the development of Tesla's lithium-ion battery technology and was instrumental in the company's efforts to reduce the cost of electric vehicle batteries.
In 2019, Straubel left his position as CTO of Tesla but remained with the company as a senior advisor. He has since founded Redwood Materials, a company focused on recycling and remanufacturing lithium-ion batteries. Straubel is also a member of the board of directors of QuantumScape, a company developing solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles.
In summary, JB Straubel is an influential figure in the electric vehicle and clean energy industries, having co-founded Tesla and played a key role in the development of the company's electric vehicle technology. He is also the founder of Redwood Materials and a board member of QuantumScape, and continues to be an important figure in the industry.
Born on December 20, 1975 in Des Moines, IA
Member of the Tesla Board since 2023
Bachelor of Science in energy systems engineering and a Master of Science in energy engineering with an emphasis on energy conversion from Stanford University.
Member of the Board of SolarCity Corporation and a member of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee from August 2006 until its acquisition by Tesla in November 2016.
Member of the Board of directors of QuantumScape since November 2020.
JB Straubel’s involvement with academics included:
Lecturer at Stanford University for the 2015-2016 academic year, where he taught the energy storage integration classes (CEE 176C & CEE 276C) in the Atmosphere and Energy Program.
Recognition
Built an electric Porsche 944 that earned the 240 V SC/B world electric vehicle racing record in 2000.
Innovator of the Year in 2008 by MIT's Technology Review in their annual TR35 innovators in the world under the age of 35.
1997 - 1998 Propulsion Engineer at Rosen Motors
2001 - 2002 Power Electronics Engineer at Powerthru
2002 - 2004 Co-Founder and CTO of Volacom, where he co-invented and patented a new long-endurance hybrid propulsion concept that was later licensed to Boeing
2005 - 2019 Co-Founder, inaugural chief technical officer and fifth employee of Tesla, Inc. leading battery cell design, supply chain and the first Gigafactory concept through the production ramp of the Model 3. He had a direct role in research and development, team building, and operational expansion from prototype cars through to mass production and expanding battery production to gigawatt-hour scale. Also responsible for new technology evaluation, technical due diligence review of key vendors and partners, intellectual property, and systems validation testing.
2019 - 2023 Advisor to Tesla
2017 - Present Co-Founder and CEO of Redwood Materials Inc
Currently holds 4,389,600 Tesla shares.
LinkedIn, Twitter account of his foundation, Video at Stanford Graduate School of Business on Transforming the Lithium-ion Battery Supply Chain, Recent interview on on Tesla, Redwood Materials and Building a Better Battery Supply Chain
Very informative, thank you
Great article! Thanks.