Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Robyn Denholm Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla From Elon Musk (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the there's-a-new-sheriff-in-town dept.

azcoyote shares a report from Reuters: Tesla director Robyn Denholm, a telecoms executive who has worked for Toyota, has been promoted to chairwoman of the electric car company, tasked with regulating billionaire Elon Musk's regime after months of turbulence. An Australian accountant, Denholm is currently finance chief at telecoms firm Telstra and replaces Musk after he was forced to relinquish the role as part of a deal to head off charges of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While she will resign from Telstra to take the role full-time, some analysts expressed concern that she may not be clearly enough removed from Musk to rein in the billionaire's public outbursts and bring more order to Tesla. Denholm, 55, has been an independent director of Tesla since 2014 and the head of its audit committee. She was paid almost $5 million, mainly in stock options, by the company last year, making her the highest remunerated of its board members. "I personally hope Denholm renames it Reynholm Industries," Slashdot reader azcoyote adds.

67 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. taking over the reins by innocent_white_lamb · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's Reins, guys. That expression originates with what you have to control a horse.

    --
    If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend!
    1. Re:taking over the reins by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Who the fuck modded this offtopic? The 3rd world Slashdot "editors" need to learn basic English.

    2. Re:taking over the reins by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 2

      That's Reins, guys. That expression originates with what you have to control a horse.

      Thank you. When I saw "reigns", I thought I was going to have to explain it yet again.

      FYI, editors, you don't appear to be doing your job when silly shit like this gets past you regularly.

      And, FYI submitters, you don't look smarter by using phrases that you don't understand....

      --

      "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
    3. Re:taking over the reins by RockDoctor · · Score: 2
      I wondered if it was Slashdot's editors, or the original article. But the closest TFA comes to that phrase is "Whether she is independent enough to rein in public outbursts by Musk" - which is correct, even if you don't know which end of the horse to insert the bit and attach the reins to.

      In slight defence of Slashdot's editor "BeauHD", the original submission had the error. But they still passed eyes over this before accepting it, which is almost as bad. My old redaktor (en_gb: editor) wouldn't have let me get away with this sort of stuff, and he wasn't even a native English speaker. Though I'd hardly call his native Norway a "third world" country. Britain, maybe. But he'll be leaving with Brexit.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    4. Re:taking over the reins by azcoyote · · Score: 2

      Haha, to be honest I typed the headline quickly because I knew I had to get back to actual work at some point. But seriously, if I had spelled it correctly, I would've gotten a lot fewer comments. Typos FTW.

      --
      Incipiamus, fratres, servire Domino Deo, quia hucusque vix vel parum in nullo profecimus.
    5. Re:taking over the reins by jeremyp · · Score: 1

      Not only that, she hasn't actually taken over the reins. Musk is still the CEO and is running the company. She is there to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Good luck to her, I say.

      --
      All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that too much to ask ~~ Randall Munroe
    6. Re:taking over the reins by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      That's Reins, guys. That expression originates with what you have to control a horse.

      Ah, originally I read it as just an awkwardly worded attempt at "takes over the reign [as in monarch] of Elon Musk at Tesla" or something.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    7. Re:taking over the reins by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      Who the fuck modded this offtopic? The 3rd world Slashdot "editors" need to learn basic English.

      Are you trying to imply that native English speakers never make this kind of mistake?

    8. Re:taking over the reins by sexconker · · Score: 1

      No, I'm not. Do you need a Venn diagram?

  2. "Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by Chuq · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" - falsely implying that Elon is no longer running the company on a day to day basis? No need for clickbait headlines like this.

    --
    - Chuq
    1. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      AND falsely implying Tesla has REIGNS? Tesla is the antithesis of REIGNS! Pah, what slushery.

    2. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Elon has better things to do than run Tesla. He had to get back on the Tesla horse in 2018 to achieve some production targets. He burned himself out and said some stupid shit along the way, and now hes off to greener pastures leaving Tesla to one of his token female execs.

      At the moment he is at Starlink HQ kicking ass and getting shit done. They need to finalize their satellite design and start serial production so they can start launching them en masse. He needs a few thousand in operation to meet FCC deadlines. Plus there are deep pockets than want low latency intercontinental bandwidth that only a LEO network can achieve (fiber is much slower than vacuum.)

      So that's it for big Tesla news for a while. Elon is not in the building.

    3. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by sexconker · · Score: 2, Informative

      Plus there are deep pockets than want low latency intercontinental bandwidth that only a LEO network can achieve (fiber is much slower than vacuum.)

      Typical glass fiber gets you about 0.7c. The BEST case scenario is going half way around the planet.

      About 12450 miles on the ground, or the equivalent of 17785 miles at full c.
      About 13706 miles at a 400 mile high orbit, + 400 miles up from Earth and 400 back down = 14506, assuming full c.

      14506 / 17785 = Just 18.5% savings for the BEST case scenario, assuming no additional delay getting stuff up and down beyond the 400 mile distance, and assuming the satellite network and transmission up to it and down from it all occur at full c. The average case is only 14% savings. And that's only on transmission time, not processing time. 18 ms savings going halfway around the world.

      Do you really want that 18 ms savings? The smarter, cheaper, and easierthing to do is to use terrestrial radio links. Alternatively, for short distances or long straight runs you can use more expensive hollow core fiber (still much cheaper than a swarm of satellites, however).

    4. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Your numbers are all fucked up. You can't use a theoretical "great circle" fiber because that doesn't exist in the real world. Real fiber is much longer due to geography, politics and other crap. And yes, "assume" full c, because that's what you get. Also, your altitude is wrong; try 210 mi.

      This has been credibly simulated, video here. London-Singapore is 90 ms by satellite, 159 ms terrestrial. That delta means high speed traders are obligated to use the system. Elon will have a license to print money.

      Learn something, before you spout off again.

    5. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by Barsteward · · Score: 1

      i can't view that site as i'm not in the USA but a search for "is Musk in a clinic" brings up nothing other than him saying that Tesla have a first class clinic for employees.

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
    6. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by MinaInerz · · Score: 1

      Regardless of whether your numbers or right or wrong, 18ms is a HUGE difference for most internet communications. That's an extra 36ms RTT savings, something that companies around the world spend fortunes on content delivery networks to achieve.

    7. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by tehcyder · · Score: 1
      From a quick Google:

      "A new rehab called High Sobriety promises to use marijuana to wean patients off of drugs and alcohol."

      Similarly, I got over my wine problem by switching to vodka.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    8. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      my sources are telling me he may (this is a rumor, nothing more than that) have checked himself into a upscale rehab place in LA

      You can't argue with facts like that.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    9. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      It's not false, Musk has been AWOL from Tesla since the whole SEC fiasco.

      How can he be Absent With Out Leave? He's the CEO; pretty much by definition, he can grant himself a leave of absence whenever he wants.

    10. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by sexconker · · Score: 1

      I did an approximation for the BEST CASE SCENARIO for a satellite network. I used 400 miles because that's near the start of LEO range (around 400 to 500 miles). The truth is you need to go much further out to get some sort of stable orbit or, better yet, a geosynchronous orbit.

      And again, I showed the worst case for going halfway around the world. The vast majority of network communications don't do that. If you WANT a link that's straighter or with less hops, BUILD ONE. Like I mentioned, you can do so using terrestrial radio links. THIS ALREADY EXISTS. It's far cheaper and more reliable than sending shit up into space.

      High speed traders? High speed traders have their automated systems IN THE FUCKING STOCK EXCHANGE.

    11. Re:"Takes Over the Reigns of Tesla" by sexconker · · Score: 1

      That's worst case, halfway around the globe. And like I said, terrestrial radio links are a much cheaper and more reliable option if you really care about that.

      The idea of using a grid of satellites for mass terrestrial comms is pretty damned stupid. Communications satellites are good for broadcast, or dedicated point-to-point links for the military (mainly because they're out of reach of most attacks and the cost doesn't matter).

      Running the fucking internet, or some significantly high-usage network, over a grid of them is retarded. You'd need to get your satellite cost (including launch, maintenance, and decommission) down to next to nothing to make it worthwhile. Even the asshats at Google only went to blimps.

  3. Just delete Elon's twitter account by bug_hunter · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Seriously, that would have fixed 90% of the stuff that got him into trouble.
    There's still serious questions about working conditions, but that's not what's getting them into trouble.

    --
    It's turtles all the way down.
    1. Re:Just delete Elon's twitter account by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You are literally retarded.

    2. Re:Just delete Elon's twitter account by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Seriously, that would have fixed 90% of the stuff that got him into trouble.

      It's also the 90% of the stuff that got Tesla where it is. Elon is like a chaotic good Twitter user, while Trump is chaotic evil. They both use the power of chaos to forever remain in the media and in the limelight. Being front and centre in the news made Musk a household name and also considerably helped his brand.

  4. Re: Robyn Denholm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    God damn....these electric sex pants.

  5. Malaproper by mentil · · Score: 1

    Looking forward to the inevitable Tesla/Telstra malapropisms in her statements.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
  6. That's not much of a change by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    I mean, she's going from Telstra to Tesla? That's just removing two letters and moving one at a different place in the string.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
    1. Re:That's not much of a change by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Funny

      There's a precedent for this and it suggests this could be outrageously successful. Christian Bale played a character called "Bateman" in American Psycho. He then played "Batman" in some very popular DC movies in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Again, same name with letters (well, a letter) removed.

      On this basis, I'd say someone going from Telstra to Tesla could be very successful, as long as the moving of the "L" doesn't upset anything.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    2. Re:That's not much of a change by azcoyote · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wonderful! If she keeps going at this rate, pretty soon she'll be working for the TSA.

      --
      Incipiamus, fratres, servire Domino Deo, quia hucusque vix vel parum in nullo profecimus.
  7. Re:Light up a doobie, and grab that bottle, Elon by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    Or, as Cave Johnson would say:
    "Yes, you. Box. Your stuff. Out the front door. Parking lot. Car. Goodbye."

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  8. Reins already by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Informative

    Reigns - what that German woman with the gold hat does.
    Reins - things for steering a horse.
    Rains - what it does in Manchester all the sodding time.

    There are minerals smarter than some folk.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:Reins already by mkoenecke · · Score: 4, Informative

      Thank you. That (along with "lose" always being spelled with an extra "o" - where in the world did that come from?) is one of my pet peeves. It's "free rein," not "free reign!"* Even though the latter does, at least, make a certain amount of sense. * No, I do not care how many Google hits each particular spelling gets. The original expression is "free rein," and refers to allowing a horse to go wherever it wants.

      --
      TANSTAAFL
    2. Re:Reins already by gerald.edward.butler · · Score: 1

      You're confusing misspelling with malapropism.

    3. Re:Reins already by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      But I'm sure I saw Madame Miss Pelling in a Voltaire play. Or was it Rabelais?

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    4. Re:Reins already by gerald.edward.butler · · Score: 1

      I'd mod you up if I had points. Nice reference!

    5. Re:Reins already by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Reign - hold royal office; rule as monarch.

      Given how Musk controlled the company, that definition could easily fit.

      Henry VII, long-faced Welsh fucking bastard that he was, didn't take over Richard III's reign; he started a new one.

      And notice how it's singular?

      I fail to see what French and Italian have to do with the matter at all. Starting with the same couple of letters doesn't make words cognate, let alone identical in meaning.

      So no, it couldn't. Shove your eggcorn up your arse.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  9. Re:Actually... by techno-vampire · · Score: 1

    I don't have to, I remember watching it first run. And, as it happens, I am not a number, I am a free man! Be seeing you...

    --
    Good, inexpensive web hosting
  10. Re:Reynholm Industries by balbeir · · Score: 2

    Do you speak Italian?

  11. Re:Reynholm Industries by bakes · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I don't think any explanation would help if you can't even click on the link.

    --
    Ho! Haha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!
  12. Wait a minute... by Foundling · · Score: 1

    Tesla's have reigns?!

    1. Re:Wait a minute... by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      Stored in the Frunk.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  13. Re:So, we know the fate of Tesla now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    PepsiCo -> Indra K. Nooyi -> doubled income
    ADM -> Patricia Woertz -> record high profitability
    Sunoco -> Lynn L. Elsenhans -> increased value 52%

  14. hmm. Hopevully, no real changes by WindBourne · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Telstra has the same reputation as Comcast, Century Link, etc. IOW, they are a junk company. While Tesla has issues, they continually address them, and make things better. The Customer Service that we have had at Littleton (and denver's) service center has blown away what my wife got from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Honda, and Toyota. The thought of cvustomer service becoming WORSE than these is bothersome.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:hmm. Hopevully, no real changes by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

      I had great service at Saturn in the mid 1990s. Your point is mostly irrelevant.

    2. Re:hmm. Hopevully, no real changes by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Telstra has the same reputation as Comcast, Century Link, etc. IOW, they are a junk company. While Tesla has issues, they continually address them, and make things better. The Customer Service that we have had at Littleton (and denver's) service center has blown away what my wife got from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Honda, and Toyota. The thought of cvustomer service becoming WORSE than these is bothersome.

      As an Australian, I can say Telstra got better. The big problem where they really were as bad as Comcast, et al. was during the 2000's where they thought they could still operate as a monopoly (Telstra was the privatised remnant of the public Telecom Australia which was taken private in the 90's when the market was opened up to competition). This was when they were headed by then CEO Sol Trujillo who pretty much ran the company as his own private fiefdom.

      After Trujillo was ousted, David Theody took the helm in 2009 and completely turned the company around getting rid of the idea that Telstra was still a monopoly and customers were still beholden to them. Telstra are still the most expensive telco, but their customer service far exceeds other large telcos (Optus and Vodafone) as does their coverage.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    3. Re:hmm. Hopevully, no real changes by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      If true, glad to hear that. Yes, Sol Trujillo came from US West where I worked at when that pecker was with us. He ran us into the ground and then sold us out. From what I have read, Telstra still sucks bad. But, I'm not there, so can not say.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    4. Re:hmm. Hopevully, no real changes by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      What you just described is Saturn BEFORE they rolled into GM. I heard good things about Saturn prior (relatives worked in car companies; in flint, outside of Detroit, and did in ohio). Once they became part of it, they went downhill and became just like the rest of the companies.

      That is why I continue to say that when GM/Ford bankrupt again (and they will), to break them up into multiple companies. Then let them collapse if they are poorly managed.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    5. Re:hmm. Hopevully, no real changes by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

      Saturn was never not a totally owned division of General Motors. They were an experimental 'renegade' division when they started and made interesting cars. But they were always under the ownership of GM.

      Ford didn't bankrupt and 'need to be saved' by the government. The point in saving 'GM' was political. A Democrat was in charge, and the Trade Unions had their hand out.

  15. Umm, no by dnaumov · · Score: 1

    The chairman of the board does not âhold the reignsâ, but, the CEO who does hold them answers to her

  16. Re:Reynholm Industries by sheramil · · Score: 1

    I hope she renames it Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé Biscuitbarrel Industries.

  17. Re:So, we know the fate of Tesla now by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

    HP is Fiorina's fault, no question about that, but Mayer took over a sinking ship - Yahoo has been described as "Beleaguered" longer than Apple was.

    Plus, you know, there are plenty of examples of great female business heads. Fuck, even actress Jessica Alba has managed to build a multibillion dollar corporation from scratch by selling organic diapers. Meanwhile half the electorate - including the kinds of people who whine about feeeeeeeeemale business heads - are going giddy over a male businessman whose main claim to fame is a string of business failures propped up by an inherited real estate empire and a lot of outright fraud.

    So, uh, maybe that wasn't a great point to bring up on your part.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  18. Re:Reynholm Industries by scottrocket · · Score: 1

    Can someone explain me the joke about Reynholm Industries?

    Not sure, but I was strangely aroused by the link's intro:

    "Reynholm Industries: a big hard business in a big hard building. Thrusting into the future strongly. Again and again. Pounding into the future, making the future beg for it. The future wants it, and Reynholm Industries wants to give it to the future..."

    Red balls for all.

  19. Re:"Reins", dammit by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

    Horses? That's the things they use to make car engines, right?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  20. Re:So, we know the fate of Tesla now by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

    HP is Hewlett and Packard's faults. No founder can live forever.

    When a company is as successful as HP was during the rise of the ubiquitous computer, all sorts of critters climb aboard. Witness the same phenomenon at work with Apple.

  21. Re:RIP Tesla by DanDD · · Score: 2

    Please provide citations to substantiate your assertion that any Tesla factory is failing to perform, or that Tesla has hired bad people.

    From the 30 seconds of investigation I've found, Tesla does seem to be meeting production targets, although it has taken longer than anticipated. Tesla's production targets have always been very aggressive:

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/j...

    Tesla does seem to be succeeding where many short sellers have been predicting failure.

    The production facility in a giant tent in the parking lot was the idea of a Tesla engineer. That gentleman was recently promoted because his idea is paying off.

    Elon has also personally hired the engineers at SpaceX, so he does seem to be doing something right in building and managing a good team, so your comment is a little confusing.

    Are you sure you aren't just a bitter short-seller? I see that TSLA hit 355 today, nearing it's all time high. So whatever you think about Tesla's failures in CEO management and hiring, the market seems to be rather happy with Tesla overall.

    --
    "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." - H. G. Wells
  22. Re:Reynholm Industries by Kelerei · · Score: 2

    Can someone explain me the joke about Reynholm Industries?

    Not sure, but I was strangely aroused by the link's intro:

    "Reynholm Industries: a big hard business in a big hard building. Thrusting into the future strongly. Again and again. Pounding into the future, making the future beg for it. The future wants it, and Reynholm Industries wants to give it to the future..."

    Red balls for all.

    But that's just the type of place it is. A lot of sexy people not doing much work... and having affairs.

    It's also notable for its IT department, consisting of a genius, a dynamic go-getter and a man from Ireland.

  23. Or "Taking over the Reign" by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

    One character has to be deleted, but I don't think it's the 'g'

    Since it's high level control, and not day-to-day, it might make more sense to be "reign". That is, wielding executive power, especially in the manner of a monarch. Since most monarchs are high level, not day-to-day, it fits well. For instance, Queen Elizabeth reigns over the UK by appointing the PM, who does the work. Similarly, the Chairman appoints the CEO who does the work.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  24. Re:Robyn Denholm... by Barsteward · · Score: 1

    wow .. a woman in charge.. must be upsetting for the Telsa trolls

    --
    "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
  25. Re:Robyn Denholm... by mcvos · · Score: 1

    Telsa

    Did you mean Telstra or Tesla? This could get really confusing.

  26. Re: RIP Tesla by mcvos · · Score: 2

    Musk clearly has a talent for running innovative tech companies. He just needs someone to stop him from picking fights with the internet and investors, and get back to making more cars/rockets/solar panels.

    I think this is a positive development.

  27. Re:Robyn Denholm... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Could be worse. It could have been Denholm Reynholm.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  28. Re:Reynholm Industries by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Let's try it again....

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  29. Re:So, we know the fate of Tesla now by gerald.edward.butler · · Score: 1

    Thank you for helping to spread my aphorisms.

  30. Re:Robyn Denholm... by mjwx · · Score: 1

    Telsa

    Did you mean Telstra or Tesla? This could get really confusing.

    Easy to tell the difference, one is a large company producing inferior products to people who refuse to shop anywhere else... Oh wait, I haven't thought this through (not true, Telstra has become a competitive and reliable service provider since Sol Trujillo was outsted, maybe Denholm can turn it around for Tesla)

    --
    Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  31. Re:So, we know the fate of Tesla now by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

    HP -> Carle Fiorina -> Crashed Yahoo -> Mellissa Mayer -> Crashed etc.

    Watch as Tesla crashes and burns in a gigantic Lithium fire!

    Wait, Carly Fiorina and Melissa Mayer were really just Robyn Denholm in disguise? Or is "Robyn Denholm" yet another fake identity made up by some master criminal? That is some impressive Bond-villain-level evil genius.

  32. Re:Robyn Denholm... by Enter+the+Shoggoth · · Score: 1

    Telsa

    Did you mean Telstra or Tesla? This could get really confusing.

    Easy to tell the difference, one is a large company producing inferior products to people who refuse to shop anywhere else... Oh wait, I haven't thought this through (not true, Telstra has become a competitive and reliable service provider since Sol Trujillo was outsted, maybe Denholm can turn it around for Tesla)

    You've got to be fucking kidding? Telstra competitive and reliable.... please give me some of what you've been smoking.

    --
    Andy Warhol got it right / Everybody gets the limelight
    Andy Warhol got it wrong / Fifteen minutes is too long.
  33. Denholm Industries by Mats+Svensson · · Score: 1

    So will they rename it "Denholm Industries" now!

    Team!
    Team!
    Team!