Tesla, the American electric car major, has announced that Vaibhav Taneja, an Indian-origin executive, is taking over as the company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This development comes after the previous CFO, Zachary Kirkhorn, made the decision to step down from his role. The information disclosed in a company filing on Monday.
Dual Role for Vaibhav Taneja as CFO and Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Taneja, 45, assumes the position of Tesla CFO alongside his ongoing responsibilities as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO). This dual role assigned to him on Friday, following Kirkhorn’s departure. Kirkhorn, who held the role of Tesla’s Master of Coin and finance chief for the past four years, decided to step down from his post.
Acknowledging Kirkhorn’s Contributions
The filing emphasized Kirkhorn’s impressive 13-year stint at Tesla. During this time, he led substantial expansion and growth under Elon Musk’s guidance. The company conveyed appreciation for his significant contributions. Additionally, it pointed out that Kirkhorn will aid in a smooth transition until year-end.
Transition Acknowledged by Kirkhorn
Mr. Kirkhorn took to LinkedIn to announce his departure, stating, “This morning Tesla announced that I’ve stepped down from my role as Chief Financial Officer, succeeded by our Chief Accounting Officer, Vaibhav Taneja.” He praised his time at Tesla, expressing pride in the accomplishments achieved during his over 13-year journey with the company.
Vaibhav Taneja Background and Experience
Vaibhav Taneja has been actively engaged in Tesla’s financial operations. He assumed the role of CAO in March 2019 and previously served as the Corporate Controller starting in May 2018. Before joining Tesla, Taneja held various finance and accounting positions at SolarCity Corporation, a solar panel developer later acquired by Tesla in 2016. As mentioned in the company filing, he associates with PricewaterhouseCoopers in both India and the US from July 1999 to March 2016.
