Tesla executive departures: should we be worried about the future?

This week, I saw a LinkedIn announcement that caught my attention. Raj Jegannathan, Vice President of IT/AI Infrastructure at Tesla, announced his departure after 13 years of service. Thirteen years at a company as demanding as Tesla is an entire career. But what really made me think was that this departure is part of a broader trend: since 2024, several high-level executives have left the manufacturer.

I’m not one to fall into catastrophism, but still, these movements deserve our attention. So I decided to factually analyze this situation: who is really leaving, why, and most importantly, what does it concretely mean for Tesla and us, Tesla owners?

Should we be worried about the manufacturer’s future? Spoiler: the answer is neither a clear yes nor a categorical no.

Who is Raj Jegannathan and why is his departure a topic of discussion?

Raj Jegannathan joined Tesla in November 2012, at a time when the company was not yet the giant we know today. In 13 years, he climbed the ranks to become Vice President of IT/AI Infrastructure, Business Apps, and Infosec. It’s safe to say his scope was absolutely strategic.

Concretely, Raj oversaw massive technical infrastructures. He was notably responsible for the design and operation of one of the largest AI clusters in the world: Dojo, the supercomputer Tesla uses to train its autonomous driving system. We’re talking about the critical infrastructure that powers Full Self-Driving, as well as the IT security of the entire company.

Some also suggest he played a role in North American sales management, although this information is not officially confirmed. What is certain is that Raj was also very active on X (formerly Twitter), where he regularly answered technical questions from the Tesla community.

On February 10, 2026, he soberly announced his departure on LinkedIn, without specifying his reasons or his next projects. This discretion obviously fuels speculation.

A wave of departures that has been concerning since 2024

Jegannathan’s departure is not an isolated case, and that’s where it gets interesting. Since 2024, several prominent executives have left Tesla. Here is a factual list of the most notable departures:

• Drew Baglino: 18 years at Tesla, VP Powertrain and Energy, left in April 2024
• Rohan Patel: Head of Public Policy, left in 2024
• Rebecca Tinucci: Director of Supercharger charging infrastructure
• Daniel Ho, Omead Afshar, Milan Kovac: important operational executives
• Siddhant Awasthi and Troy Jones: both in US sales

To put things in perspective: Tesla has always had a certain turnover. Between 2010 and 2022, we already saw departures, but they were more spaced out and often linked to specific projects completed or isolated strategic disagreements.

What’s different today is the acceleration. We’re not talking about mass resignations or a massive exodus, but a marked trend over 24 months. It’s worth digging into the possible reasons.

What are the possible reasons for these departures?

Tesla’s demanding company culture

Let’s be honest: working at Tesla, especially at this level of responsibility, is intense. Elon Musk’s demanding company culture is well-documented. We’re talking about aggressive goals, a sustained pace, and almost constant availability.

After 10, 13, or 18 years at this pace, even the most passionate can feel the need to slow down. Burnout spares no one, not even vice presidents. After 13 years at this level of intensity, I completely understand wanting to take a break, spend more time with family, or simply slow down.

Enrichment via stock options

Here’s a reality we often forget: executives who joined Tesla between 2011 and 2013 saw their stock options explode. In 2012, Tesla stock was around $30. In 2024-2026, it fluctuates between $250 and $400, with even higher peaks.

Concretely, after 13 years with a package including generous stock options, some executives have accumulated enough wealth to take an early retirement that is financially possible. This isn’t a flight; it’s a successful exit. Why continue to work oneself to death when financial independence has been achieved?

Tesla’s strategic pivot

Tesla is transforming before our eyes. The company is gradually shifting from an automaker to an AI/robotics company. The Optimus projects (the humanoid robot), the expansion of Full Self-Driving, robotaxis… all of this redefines the company’s DNA.

Some executives who built Tesla as an automaker may feel out of step with this new direction. IT/AI infrastructure remains central, of course, but priorities are changing. And when priorities change, some prefer to leave rather than adapt to a new paradigm.

What is the concrete impact for Tesla and its owners?

So here’s the real question: will these departures impact our experience as Tesla owners? No need to panic, at least not for now. Production continues normally, deliveries are maintained, and Full Self-Driving updates are still arriving regularly.

That said, there is a real loss of expertise, particularly in AI infrastructures. Raj Jegannathan oversaw critical systems for Dojo and FSD development. The question is: who will take over this strategic position? And more importantly, will there be a transition period that could slow down developments?

The potential impact could be felt on the development timelines for future autonomous features. If the infrastructure team takes time to restructure, we might see the pace of FSD updates slow down slightly.

For us, Tesla owners, continuity is assured in the short term. But I think we need to monitor a key indicator in the coming months: the pace of FSD updates. It’s a good thermometer of the internal health of the technical teams.

My personal verdict? Vigilance without alarmism. Tesla is not in crisis, but these departures deserve a close eye.

My personal review of this situation

As a Tesla owner and an attentive observer of the company for several years, I don’t see these departures as an immediate warning sign. All tech companies, especially those in hyper-growth like Tesla, experience these cycles of team renewal.

What would truly count as a warning sign would be massive departures AND a simultaneous drop in product quality. For now, I observe no degradation in vehicles, service, or software features. Teslas continue to be excellent, updates are arriving, and the Supercharger network is expanding.

I maintain my confidence in Tesla, while remaining vigilant over the coming months, as industry observers note that such personnel movements in tech are often indicative of deeper strategic transformations.

And you, does it worry you or not? Do you follow these movements closely, or as long as your Tesla drives well, do you care little about the rest? Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments.