Tom Zhu (朱晓彤) - Tesla's SVP of Automotive Background: - Born in China, educated in New Zealand and the US - B.Com in IT from Auckland University of Technology - MBA from Duke University (Fuqua School of Business) Career at Tesla (joined April 2014): - Started as Program Manager for the Supercharger Team in China - Rose to VP of Greater China in 2019 - Oversaw the construction and ramp-up of Gigafactory Shanghai - considered one of Tesla's biggest operational wins - Promoted to SVP of Automotive in early 2023, making him effectively Musk's #2 on the automotive side Notable: - Oversees all of Tesla's assembly plants and global sales operations - Considered the most operationally focused executive at Tesla - described as "the most determined executor of Musk's will" - Recently stepped back from North America & Europe duties amid restructuring, with reports he may refocus on China Fun fact: Elon Musk reportedly offered him a $10B compensation package (with $1.6B guaranteed) - a sign of how valued he is internally.