In a year marked by significant restructuring and executive departures, another senior leader has stepped down at Tesla. Sreela Venkataratnam, Vice President of Finance and Business Operations, has announced her departure from the EV giant.
Venkataratnam’s departure was announced through a LinkedIn post, which reflected both pride and exhaustion after her 11-year career at the company. She said her time at Tesla as “nothing short of extraordinary,” highlighting the company’s growth from a fledgling startup with less than $1 billion in annual revenue to a global powerhouse with a market capitalization that once exceeded $1 trillion.
Venkataratnam’s contributions were instrumental in Tesla’s rapid expansion, overseeing key financial operations that supported the rollout of the Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. Additionally, she played a significant role in the development of Tesla’s energy products and the establishment of new factories, driving the company’s global expansion.
However, Venkataratnam’s post also highlighted the intense pressures that come with working at Tesla. She candidly noted that the company is “not for the faint of heart,” echoing sentiments shared by other former employees.
Venkataratnam’s departure follows a wave of exits among Tesla’s senior leadership. Earlier this year, the company laid off over 10% of its workforce as part of a cost-cutting initiative led by CEO Elon Musk. The layoffs were coupled with the departure of key executives like Drew Baglino, former Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Electrical Engineering, Rohan Patel, former Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development, Martin Viecha, Head of Investor Relations, and Rebecca Tinnuci, Senior Director EV Charging, and others.
