Tesla’s board is actively seeking a successor to Elon Musk, concerned by his divided attention and recent absence from the company’s day-to-day operations. This effort, quietly underway for about a month, was triggered by the electric vehicle maker’s plunging share price and investor frustration over Musk’s growing political commitments.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “About a month ago, with Tesla’s stock sinking and some investors irritated about Elon Musk’s White House focus, Tesla’s board got serious about looking for Musk’s successor.” The board has reportedly engaged a major executive search firm to lead the process, though “the current status of the succession planning couldn’t be determined.”
Surprisingly, it remains unclear whether Musk himself is aware of the board’s actions. The report also noted that Tesla’s eight-member board is looking to add a new independent director.
A company without a clear number two
Tesla is one of five businesses Musk oversees, but it stands out for how heavily it depends on him. Over 20 executives report directly to Musk, yet the company lacks a president, COO, or executive vice presidents. Its leadership structure is thinner than most other major tech or automotive firms.
The concern is not theoretical. Tesla’s own filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission note: “We are highly dependent on the services of Elon Musk, Technoking of Tesla and our Chief Executive Officer. Although Mr. Musk spends significant time with Tesla and is highly active in our management, he does not devote his full time and attention to Tesla.”
He is now also the head of the U.S. government's Department of Government Efficiency under President Trump and is expected to spend around 130 days per year at the White House. As a result, Tesla employees reportedly hadn’t heard from him in months until an all-hands meeting in March that Musk livestreamed via X. In it, he reassured employees and urged them not to sell their shares.
Despite his public-facing dominance, the board seems increasingly aware of the risk his limited availability poses. With falling sales, stronger competition from Chinese manufacturers like BYD, and lagging behind Waymo in autonomous vehicles, the company may be at a tipping point.
Who are the contenders for Tesla’s top job
Musk once admitted he feared that no one else could “sell the vision that Tesla isn’t just an automaker, but the future of robotics and automation as well.” Still, several names are now in the mix—some from inside Tesla, others from across the electric vehicle and technology sectors. These are some of the top contenders as reported by Forbes, Australia.
JB Straubel
The most natural successor may be JB Straubel, Tesla’s former Chief Technology Officer and one of its five cofounders. Now CEO of battery recycling firm Redwood Materials, Straubel also sits on Tesla’s board.
Straubel helped design Tesla’s electric motors and battery systems and led the construction of its massive Gigafactory in Nevada. His deep technical knowledge and institutional memory make him an ideal candidate.
“He is perfect. The stock would rally,” said Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management.
However, sources suggest Straubel is more focused on scaling Redwood than returning to Tesla.
Tom Zhu
Tom Zhu is Tesla’s only senior vice president and effectively its highest-ranking executive below Musk. Based in China, he played a key role in building and managing the Shanghai Gigafactory—a cornerstone of Tesla’s recent profitability.
A Chinese national educated in New Zealand and the United States, Zhu has also worked briefly in the U.S. to help with the Austin Gigafactory. Musk reportedly values Zhu’s intense work ethic, and although he keeps a low profile, his operational expertise could make him a top pick.
Stella Li
Among the external candidates, Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD and head of its American operations, is a compelling choice. Li has helped BYD expand rapidly in Latin America and the U.S., and she’s well-regarded in climate and EV circles.
A graduate of Fudan University and based in Los Angeles, Li’s experience with BYD—also a Tesla battery supplier—could bring valuable insights and connections. Her familiarity with both U.S. and Chinese markets adds to her appeal.
John Krafcik and José Muñoz
Other names floated include John Krafcik, the former CEO of Waymo, and Hyundai Motor’s CEO José Muñoz. Both bring leadership experience in autonomous driving and traditional automotive success. Krafcik has credibility in the robotaxi space, where Tesla is struggling to catch up. Muñoz, meanwhile, offers a strong track record of managing large, global operations.
Tesla’s Identity Crisis
What’s clear is that Musk’s shadow looms large over Tesla. Dan Ives, a longtime Tesla analyst with Wedbush, summed up the situation bluntly: “Musk is Tesla and Tesla is Musk. Anyone else would change the whole story.”
The challenge isn’t just finding someone who can run the company. It’s finding someone who can hold investor confidence, protect Tesla’s brand, and lead it through a transition toward becoming a full-fledged AI and robotics powerhouse.
If Musk were to exit abruptly, it would likely spark another sharp decline in Tesla shares, which have already dropped by nearly 50% in recent months. But the board’s quiet search signals that a post-Musk Tesla is no longer just hypothetical—it’s a possibility the company is now actively planning for.
(With inputs from TOI)
According to the Wall Street Journal, “About a month ago, with Tesla’s stock sinking and some investors irritated about Elon Musk’s White House focus, Tesla’s board got serious about looking for Musk’s successor.” The board has reportedly engaged a major executive search firm to lead the process, though “the current status of the succession planning couldn’t be determined.”
Surprisingly, it remains unclear whether Musk himself is aware of the board’s actions. The report also noted that Tesla’s eight-member board is looking to add a new independent director.
A company without a clear number two
Tesla is one of five businesses Musk oversees, but it stands out for how heavily it depends on him. Over 20 executives report directly to Musk, yet the company lacks a president, COO, or executive vice presidents. Its leadership structure is thinner than most other major tech or automotive firms.
The concern is not theoretical. Tesla’s own filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission note: “We are highly dependent on the services of Elon Musk, Technoking of Tesla and our Chief Executive Officer. Although Mr. Musk spends significant time with Tesla and is highly active in our management, he does not devote his full time and attention to Tesla.”
He is now also the head of the U.S. government's Department of Government Efficiency under President Trump and is expected to spend around 130 days per year at the White House. As a result, Tesla employees reportedly hadn’t heard from him in months until an all-hands meeting in March that Musk livestreamed via X. In it, he reassured employees and urged them not to sell their shares.
Despite his public-facing dominance, the board seems increasingly aware of the risk his limited availability poses. With falling sales, stronger competition from Chinese manufacturers like BYD, and lagging behind Waymo in autonomous vehicles, the company may be at a tipping point.
Who are the contenders for Tesla’s top job
Musk once admitted he feared that no one else could “sell the vision that Tesla isn’t just an automaker, but the future of robotics and automation as well.” Still, several names are now in the mix—some from inside Tesla, others from across the electric vehicle and technology sectors. These are some of the top contenders as reported by Forbes, Australia.
JB Straubel
The most natural successor may be JB Straubel, Tesla’s former Chief Technology Officer and one of its five cofounders. Now CEO of battery recycling firm Redwood Materials, Straubel also sits on Tesla’s board.
Straubel helped design Tesla’s electric motors and battery systems and led the construction of its massive Gigafactory in Nevada. His deep technical knowledge and institutional memory make him an ideal candidate.
“He is perfect. The stock would rally,” said Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management.
However, sources suggest Straubel is more focused on scaling Redwood than returning to Tesla.
Tom Zhu
Tom Zhu is Tesla’s only senior vice president and effectively its highest-ranking executive below Musk. Based in China, he played a key role in building and managing the Shanghai Gigafactory—a cornerstone of Tesla’s recent profitability.
A Chinese national educated in New Zealand and the United States, Zhu has also worked briefly in the U.S. to help with the Austin Gigafactory. Musk reportedly values Zhu’s intense work ethic, and although he keeps a low profile, his operational expertise could make him a top pick.
Stella Li
Among the external candidates, Stella Li, executive vice president of BYD and head of its American operations, is a compelling choice. Li has helped BYD expand rapidly in Latin America and the U.S., and she’s well-regarded in climate and EV circles.
A graduate of Fudan University and based in Los Angeles, Li’s experience with BYD—also a Tesla battery supplier—could bring valuable insights and connections. Her familiarity with both U.S. and Chinese markets adds to her appeal.
John Krafcik and José Muñoz
Other names floated include John Krafcik, the former CEO of Waymo, and Hyundai Motor’s CEO José Muñoz. Both bring leadership experience in autonomous driving and traditional automotive success. Krafcik has credibility in the robotaxi space, where Tesla is struggling to catch up. Muñoz, meanwhile, offers a strong track record of managing large, global operations.
Tesla’s Identity Crisis
What’s clear is that Musk’s shadow looms large over Tesla. Dan Ives, a longtime Tesla analyst with Wedbush, summed up the situation bluntly: “Musk is Tesla and Tesla is Musk. Anyone else would change the whole story.”
The challenge isn’t just finding someone who can run the company. It’s finding someone who can hold investor confidence, protect Tesla’s brand, and lead it through a transition toward becoming a full-fledged AI and robotics powerhouse.
If Musk were to exit abruptly, it would likely spark another sharp decline in Tesla shares, which have already dropped by nearly 50% in recent months. But the board’s quiet search signals that a post-Musk Tesla is no longer just hypothetical—it’s a possibility the company is now actively planning for.
(With inputs from TOI)
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