Tesla Vice President quits after 11 years

Sreela Venkataratnam, Vice President of Tesla, announced her resignation after an impressive 11-year tenure with the company, citing a desire to take a break for personal well-being and to spend time with her family. Venkataratnam, who joined Tesla in early 2013, steadily advanced through the ranks, starting as Director of Finance Operations and eventually becoming Vice President. She described her experience at Tesla as "nothing short of extraordinary," while also acknowledging that working there "is not for the faint of heart."

Reflecting on her time at Tesla, Venkataratnam recalled the company’s modest beginnings, noting that when she started, Tesla had "less than USD 1 billion in yearly revenues, a market cap of -USD 4 billion, and fewer than 3,000 cars delivered annually." Over the years, she witnessed Tesla’s dramatic transformation into a global leader in the electric vehicle market. During her tenure, Tesla’s revenues soared to nearly USD 100 billion, its market cap reached USD 700 billion (even peaking at USD 1 trillion during the pandemic), and car deliveries increased to more than 1.8 million annually.

In her departure statement, Venkataratnam expressed immense pride in the company's growth, remarking, "Leaving as a Vice President (one of only two women VPs in the company) with annual revenues soaring close to USD 100 billion, a market cap of USD 700 billion (reaching USD 1 trillion during the pandemic), and car deliveries exceeding 1.8 million, I am proud of how much we’ve achieved together."

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She also took a moment to express her deep gratitude to her colleagues and collaborators over the years. "I am profoundly grateful to the incredible champions, including some who are no longer with the company, my teammates, and colleagues who supported me and my team throughout this journey. Your integrity, dedication, and collaboration were instrumental in our shared success," she wrote in her farewell post.

Jason Wheeler, Tesla’s former CFO, commented on her post, acknowledging the challenges associated with working at Tesla and commending her achievements. "You did it right, Sreela. Congrats on an amazing run at a company that wasn’t always easy to work at. Bravo!" Wheeler wrote. Venkataratnam agreed, replying, "It is definitely not for the faint of heart! It was great working with you, especially during those tough days!"

Venkataratnam's departure is part of a broader trend, as several senior executives have left Tesla in recent months. According to Fortune, three executives resigned in April within two weeks, including Martin Viecha, a longtime Vice President of Investor Relations; Drew Baglino, Senior Vice President; and Rohan Patel, Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development.

During her journey at Tesla, Venkataratnam advanced from Director of Finance Operations, a role she took on in early 2013, to Senior Director of Finance two years later, and finally to Vice President in June 2019. She held the Vice President role until June 2024.

In her farewell message, Venkataratnam expressed her immense pride in Tesla’s evolution from a small company with minimal revenue and vehicle output into a corporate giant recognised for its contributions to the electric vehicle market. While she has not disclosed specific future plans beyond taking a break, she remains open to new opportunities after some time off.

Venkataratnam shared her departure on LinkedIn, stating her intention to "take a break and spend quality time with family, reconnect with old friends, and focus on personal well-being."