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James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

reuters.com

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Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#31

Post by obpacheco »

celticninja wrote: post #12
elektor wrote: post #7

From the article: The son of Fox mogul Rupert Murdoch, he joined Tesla’s board in July 2017 after years of work with media companies. He has no experience in manufacturing and has never led a company that makes cars or electric vehicles. What exactly does this guy bring to the table for Tesla? Money? Connections?

Murdoch and his family are poisonous, this won't help Tesla in the long run but might help.then with the SEC in the short run.

They're also brilliant businessmen who have built the most successful news empire in America

Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#33

Post by TaylorAlexander »

verelo wrote: post #29
ridicter wrote: post #27

Sorry, we live in a world where News Corp has been at the epicenter of cultivating "Merchants of Doubt"[1] when it comes to anthropogenic climate change. Anyone tied up in that universe deserves skepticism if not outright rejection for the unbelievable damage they have wielded on society's ability to address climate change. The cost to society is enormous, and their grandchildren and grandchildren's children will pay…

Climate change / fear / drama in general, all sell news papers for Murdoch. I'm sure they'll capitalize on this sooner or later, it's a shame for now it seems the focus has been on getting people elected that seem hell bent on making the situation worse. Or maybe that's just part of the plan all along?

I mean I think it makes the situation better for the various cronies in control of the administration. A guy focused on “deals” is a godsend for moneyed interests who just want to get their way.

Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#34

Post by tyingq »

elektor wrote: post #7

From the article: The son of Fox mogul Rupert Murdoch, he joined Tesla’s board in July 2017 after years of work with media companies. He has no experience in manufacturing and has never led a company that makes cars or electric vehicles. What exactly does this guy bring to the table for Tesla? Money? Connections?

I assume "will do whatever Elon says" was the top requirement.

Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#35

Post by Zarath »

Twirrim wrote: post #3

Wonder how long until Fox News does a 180 on global warming and starts talking about the importance of electric vehicles?

About until electric car companies become incumbent, rent-seeking, humanity-sucking corporations that thrive off propaganda, subsidies, and bribes to stay afloat. Then they will be on board.

Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#36

Post by ridicter »

archgoon wrote: post #30
ridicter wrote: post #27

Sorry, we live in a world where News Corp has been at the epicenter of cultivating "Merchants of Doubt"[1] when it comes to anthropogenic climate change. Anyone tied up in that universe deserves skepticism if not outright rejection for the unbelievable damage they have wielded on society's ability to address climate change. The cost to society is enormous, and their grandchildren and grandchildren's children will pay…

From another commenter. > threeseed > James Murdoch has been on the board for a while and is very good friends with Elon Musk. So this brings a sympathetic chairman who isn't going to crack down on Musk's erratic behaviour. It seems a bit late to be concerned about this guy wielding influence at Tesla.

Yes, I just saw this. I hope it's true.

I remember seeing an interview about 5 years ago that featured both Elon Musk and Bob Lutz, vice chairman of GM. In the interview, Musk was incredibly deferential to Lutz and talked about his respect for Lutz and considered him a friend. They were very cordial. Nevertheless, Lutz has been on the record for many, many years as lambasting Tesla, it ambitious and sustainable aims, and its business model.

So hopefully it's a real friend and not a keep-your-enemies-closer friend. Or maybe either is fine.

Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#38

Post by bitL »

durkie wrote: post #16
bitL wrote: post #14

Nepotism is going to save Tesla! Right? If I were an independent investor, I'd be pulling my money out after this news.

How is this nepotism?

To an outsider like me it would look like a position awarded due to being a son of a powerful/rich father with relevant experience awarded the same way in another corporation (how likely is to become a chief executive in young age on own merit?). That would qualify it as a nepotism (father as investor to son); if Elon is a friend, then also cronyism. I have no hope in companies ran in such fashion; they can't survive Darwinian environment, bad decisions would accumulate in time, leading to larger and larger monetary loss, prompting fund withdrawal to cut the losses at some point.

Re: James Murdoch in line to replace Musk as Tesla chairman

#40

Post by JamesBarney »

ridicter wrote: post #27

Sorry, we live in a world where News Corp has been at the epicenter of cultivating "Merchants of Doubt"[1] when it comes to anthropogenic climate change. Anyone tied up in that universe deserves skepticism if not outright rejection for the unbelievable damage they have wielded on society's ability to address climate change. The cost to society is enormous, and their grandchildren and grandchildren's children will pay…

I don't know his exact political leanings but he looks to be more liberal than his father. His wife for instance works for the Clinton Climate Initiative.
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