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Tesla's Engineering Chief Takes Leave of Absence (wsj.com)
Tesla's senior vice president of engineering, Doug Field, is taking a leave of absence from the company (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source) at a crucial moment when the electric-car maker is struggling to boost production of the Model 3 sedan. While Tesla declined to say when he would come back, one person familiar with the matter described the absence as a "six-week sabbatical." The Wall Street Journal reports: Mr. Field has been a key leader at Silicon Valley auto maker since joining in 2013 from Apple. He oversees the engineering of Tesla's vehicles, and last year he was also given oversight of production to better align the two efforts. That changed this spring when Chief Executive Elon Musk acknowledge he retook control of production. The Silicon Valley auto maker is at a critical juncture as it tries to produce enough Model 3 cars to generate cash to fund the business and instill confidence in investors the company can create its first mass-market vehicle.
Tesla has a history of key executives departing on so-called sabbaticals. Jerome Guillen, Tesla's current vice president of truck and programs, for example, took a sabbatical in 2015 from his role as vice president of worldwide sales and service only to return in the new role. He had led development of the Model S sedan. The hiring of Mr. Field from Apple, where he was vice president of Mac hardware engineering, was touted as a win for Mr. Musk who had big ambitions for the electric-car company. Mr. Field had also worked at Ford and Segway, giving him unique experience in both the tech and autos industry.
Tesla has a history of key executives departing on so-called sabbaticals. Jerome Guillen, Tesla's current vice president of truck and programs, for example, took a sabbatical in 2015 from his role as vice president of worldwide sales and service only to return in the new role. He had led development of the Model S sedan. The hiring of Mr. Field from Apple, where he was vice president of Mac hardware engineering, was touted as a win for Mr. Musk who had big ambitions for the electric-car company. Mr. Field had also worked at Ford and Segway, giving him unique experience in both the tech and autos industry.
"six-week sabbatical" is called 'usual summer vacation' over there.
If he can't leave for six weeks then he's failed at his most important job as a division head, staffing with competent staff that you direct. He's either confident the ship has been righted and taking a break or he's throwing in the towel and the sabbatical is just so Mr. Musk doesn't get suspicious why he's taking long lunches and wearing suits to work.
8 weeks every SEVEN YEARS?
Holy hell, talk about a third-world country.
"Rats always leave a sinking ship"
That's a possibility. Maybe he's going to sell his assets and make a quick trip to Tijuana to get forged documents and some plastic surgery. We'll never see nor hear from him again.
It's also possible that he's on the verge of a nervous breakdown and has been told to take a vacation before he harms himself or others.
Or he could have some problem he needs to deal with that is more important than a damn car -- a loved one with cancer for example.
Or things could simply have reached a point where he his actions can't make much difference. Maybe Tesla is locked on the road to success. Or maybe it's doomed.
No way for us to tell. And quite likely none of our business.
You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey