WSJ seems like they try to find every excuse possible to pick on Tesla
Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
11–20 of 71 posts
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#12He seems pretty well-known within the company. First joined Tesla 9 years ago, Wharton undergrad, Harvard MBA. He’s obviously qualified, what’s with all the ageist comments? 34 years old is a “kid” now? On HN of all places? Who cares if he’s a “relative unknown” according to WSJ. Is notoriety an important qualification for CFO?
I think it is noteworthy given the notoriety of Musk and the high pressure situation being CFO of a company whose CEO makes numerous unsubstantiated claims. If I were an investor in TSLA this would not be welcome news to me. Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak?
> Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak?
My guess: Musk would be more likely to listen to someone who knows the company inside and out and has been with them for years, as opposed to a qualified outsider.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#13There's no obvious reason he couldn't do this job. Executive roles are very culturally sensitive, and this guy knows the firm.
Given decreasing margin returns to experience, how much more experience does he need?
The guy who turned around LEGO was also in his 30s when he took over, seemed to go fine.
In case you're wondering whether I think everyone in their 30s can take a leading role, I think there's a fair chance assuming the person has been exposed to some management content.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#14He seems pretty well-known within the company. First joined Tesla 9 years ago, Wharton undergrad, Harvard MBA. He’s obviously qualified, what’s with all the ageist comments? 34 years old is a “kid” now? On HN of all places? Who cares if he’s a “relative unknown” according to WSJ. Is notoriety an important qualification for CFO?
I think it is noteworthy given the notoriety of Musk and the high pressure situation being CFO of a company whose CEO makes numerous unsubstantiated claims. If I were an investor in TSLA this would not be welcome news to me. Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak?
> Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk?
Maybe not, but is that even the job of a CFO?
The CFO works for the CEO, right?
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#15He seems pretty well-known within the company. First joined Tesla 9 years ago, Wharton undergrad, Harvard MBA. He’s obviously qualified, what’s with all the ageist comments? 34 years old is a “kid” now? On HN of all places? Who cares if he’s a “relative unknown” according to WSJ. Is notoriety an important qualification for CFO?
When the last CFO left in under 2 years, and many other senior execs seem to be fleeing, the worrisome implication is that TSLA has trouble attracting and retaining senior talent given the work pressure and thin financial margin, so they are instead turning to a relatively green home-bred 34 yo. At the end of the day, I'm not personally worried about this and think this guy will likely do just fine, but this is suffi…
>the worrisome implication is that TSLA has trouble attracting and retaining senior talent given the work pressure and thin financial margin
A lot of "senior talent" are probably entitled, slow, and pedestrian. A lot of companies like these people because they are good at maintaining a caste system and shaking hands.
I think Tesla, as a disruptor, both needs and hates these employees. They need someone who has "done it before" so they can get out ahead of rookie mistakes. But they also need someone who will work hard, fast, and not get caught up thinking that they know everything.
I have never been bothered by high churn for execs at Tesla. Have any of you ever even met or worked for/with "senior talent?"
I bet Musk would rather be in the room with engineers who hate having reports than people-people.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it is noteworthy given the notoriety of Musk and the high pressure situation being CFO of a company whose CEO makes numerous unsubstantiated claims. If I were an investor in TSLA this would not be welcome news to me. Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak?
> Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Maybe not, but is that even the job of a CFO? The CFO works for the CEO, right?
No that's not correct, they work for the shareholders and board of directors.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it is noteworthy given the notoriety of Musk and the high pressure situation being CFO of a company whose CEO makes numerous unsubstantiated claims. If I were an investor in TSLA this would not be welcome news to me. Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak?
> Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Maybe not, but is that even the job of a CFO? The CFO works for the CEO, right?
I would not want to invest in a company in which high ranking officers did not have the ability to push back against the CEO. Rarely is one person always correct. Steve Jobs famously did not want to port iTunes to Windows but angrily consented to doing so due to pushback by people who reported to him. Musk has a very strong personality and an investor ought to want equally strong personalities in key positions since TSLA ought not be a dictatorship.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#18He seems pretty well-known within the company. First joined Tesla 9 years ago, Wharton undergrad, Harvard MBA. He’s obviously qualified, what’s with all the ageist comments? 34 years old is a “kid” now? On HN of all places? Who cares if he’s a “relative unknown” according to WSJ. Is notoriety an important qualification for CFO?
When the last CFO left in under 2 years, and many other senior execs seem to be fleeing, the worrisome implication is that TSLA has trouble attracting and retaining senior talent given the work pressure and thin financial margin, so they are instead turning to a relatively green home-bred 34 yo. At the end of the day, I'm not personally worried about this and think this guy will likely do just fine, but this is suffi…
The narrative that Tesla has a 'fleeing execs' is mostly false. For years every-time somebody lefts there are articles claiming that managers a fleeing. Overall however the turnover rate is not very exceptional and somehow Tesla still has highly performing managers after years of 'fleeing execs'.
Tesla is continuing to grow at a high rate threw all that so its really hard for me to see this as anything other then narrative.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it is noteworthy given the notoriety of Musk and the high pressure situation being CFO of a company whose CEO makes numerous unsubstantiated claims. If I were an investor in TSLA this would not be welcome news to me. Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak?
> Is this person, relatively young for CFO, in a position to stand up to Musk? Is this person going to be just a yes man so to speak? My guess: Musk would be more likely to listen to someone who knows the company inside and out and has been with them for years, as opposed to a qualified outsider.
I don’t know Musk but from what I’ve read about him from an ex-wife of his and those who have worked for him Must is most likely not going to listen to anyone he doesn’t have to. He appears to have a Trumpian incapacity for admitting wrondoing or admitting that a decision was wrong. I would not want to invest in a company run by him if it didn’t have strong people in key positions.
Re: Elon Musk’s Surprise Pick for Tesla CFO Is a Relative Unknown
#20He seems pretty well-known within the company. First joined Tesla 9 years ago, Wharton undergrad, Harvard MBA. He’s obviously qualified, what’s with all the ageist comments? 34 years old is a “kid” now? On HN of all places? Who cares if he’s a “relative unknown” according to WSJ. Is notoriety an important qualification for CFO?
When the last CFO left in under 2 years, and many other senior execs seem to be fleeing, the worrisome implication is that TSLA has trouble attracting and retaining senior talent given the work pressure and thin financial margin, so they are instead turning to a relatively green home-bred 34 yo. At the end of the day, I'm not personally worried about this and think this guy will likely do just fine, but this is suffi…
Do you think they have difficulty retaining senior talent because they are underpaying or that Tesla is a shit-show to work for?
Either way, it's extremely difficult for younger people to be in CxO positions unless they start a company. I'm extremely doubtful that most can't do the job, it's just that they can't get hired.
I'm sure this person will do just as good of a job as any 50+ yo with an extra decade or two of experience. Typically people that require 10+ years of experience to perform a job are worse off than someone that is capable after only 4-5years. Lots of dumb-fuck boomers out there that had to be spoon fed every iota of information before they could perform at a high level.