FYI: Eric Quinnell exits Tesla amidst significant shifts in top management ranks.
In a notable move, Eric Quinnell, one of Tesla’s acclaimed engineers who played a pivotal role in the Dojo AI supercomputer program, has announced his exit from the company. Known for his impactful contributions to the automotive giant, Quinnell shared this development via a LinkedIn post on Saturday. Expressing mixed emotions about his departure after nearly four years at Tesla, Quinnell even shared a light-hearted mad libs-style email template intended for farewell messages, showcasing his humor as he exits the company.
Dojo Supercomputer and Open-Source Innovations
Quinnell’s noteworthy contributions to Tesla include his work on the fabric of the Dojo supercomputer, a key component of Tesla’s AI initiatives. Additionally, he contributed to the development of the Tesla Transport Protocol over Ethernet (TTPoE). Just last month, Tesla decided to make TTPoE open-source, a move that underscores its commitment to innovation and collaboration in the tech community.
Transition to Tranium
After several enriching years at Tesla, Quinnell gears up for his next professional chapter at Tranium. Prior to joining Tesla, Quinnell’s career was marked by significant stints at several tech giants, including over six years at Samsung’s R&D Center in Austin and AMD, as well as a role at the firm Arm. This extensive background in technology research and development undoubtedly contributed to his successful tenure at Tesla.
A Series of Executive Changes at Tesla
Quinnell’s departure is part of a broader trend of leadership transition at Tesla. Recently, Tesla saw the promotion of Ashok Elluswamy, formerly the Director of Autopilot, to Vice President of AI Software. This was closely followed by Milan Kovic’s rise to Vice President of the Optimus humanoid robot program, having previously been the Director of Autopilot Software Engineering. Additionally, Omead Afshar was appointed as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Manufacturing, signaling Tesla’s dynamic shift and reshuffling within its executive board.
However, this reshuffle also came with significant departures. Notably, the company saw the exit of VP of Finance and Business Operations Sreela Venkataratnam in August after an impressive 11-year career. Earlier exits included Giga Texas Manufacturing Director Renjue Zhu and Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering Drew Baglino, who left in May and April, respectively.
Conclusion: Navigating Change and Innovation
Tesla’s latest shifts in leadership highlight an era of transformation and strategic realignment within the organization. While Quinnell’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter, it also opens new avenues for growth and advancement. As Tesla continues to evolve, it remains a powerhouse of innovation, drawing from its rich talent pool and continuously redefining leadership in the automotive industry.
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By William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
