Elon Musk Loses Key Tesla Engineer Behind Roadster To EV Startup Founded By Ex-Colleague

One of Elon Musk-led Tesla Inc‘s TSLA key engineering figures, Colin Campbell, is bidding farewell to the electric vehicle giant after 17 years of service. 

What Happened: Campbell, who played an instrumental role in Tesla’s growth from a startup to a global powerhouse, is making a significant career move to join Redwood Materials, a company established by none other than Tesla’s co-founder and former CTO, J.B. Straubel.

Reflecting on his time at Tesla, Campbell said on LinkedIn: “My time at the company began when we barely had a proof of concept and ends with millions of Teslas on the road worldwide. We not only made a difference on global emissions but also forever influenced how the world thinks about transportation and helped to shape the product roadmaps of almost every other automaker.”

See Also: Everything You Need to Know About Tesla Stock

Key Contributions: Campbell’s journey with Tesla commenced in 2006 when the EV landscape was in its infancy. He was part of the team that brought Tesla’s first electric sports car, the Roadster, to life. Through the years, he climbed the ranks, contributing significantly to the advancement of Tesla’s powertrain technology.

His trajectory at Tesla included roles such as director of engineering for power electronics, and later as vice president of powertrain.

Why It Matters: Campbell’s decision to join Redwood Materials as CTO marks a reunion with former colleague Straubel, who co-founded Redwood after leaving Tesla in 2019 and is credited by Musk as the reason behind his first investment in Tesla.

Redwood Materials aims to create a North American battery supply chain by producing cathode and anode materials and focusing on recycling.

Interestingly, Straubel recently returned to Tesla, this time as a member of the company’s board, possibly signaling potential ties between the two companies. 

Campbell’s exit also comes on the heels of the abrupt exit of Zachary Kirkhorn, who held the position of chief financial officer.

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