Who Is Sreela Venkataratnam? Tesla's Finance Vice President Resigns

Sreela Venkataratnam, who was the Vice President of Tesla's Finance and Business Operations, resigned on August 21, amid senior executive exits. The veteran financier cited the work environment at the Elon Musk-owned firm as being "not for the faint-hearted." In a LinkedIn post announcing her departure from the company, Venkataratnam said she now wants to commit herself to "quality time with family, reconnect with old friends, and focus on personal well-being."

Sreela Venkataraman's Time At Tesla

Sreela Venkataratnam's distinguished career at Tesla began in 2013 when she joined as the Director of Finance Operations. Two years later, she moved up to the post of Senior Director of Finance. Her term as Vice President of the department began in 2019.

She wrote on LinkedIn, "After 11 incredible years, I bid farewell to Tesla. Reflecting on this journey, it has been nothing short of extraordinary." She expressed her pride at the company's growth during that time to become the $700 billion colossus it is today.

Venkataratnam described that she contributed to the development of Tesla's Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y, and the Cybertruck. She was reportedly also involved in the company's energy production. "I am proud of how much we’ve achieved together," she said.

Looking back at her time at the company, Venkataratnam wrote, "I am profoundly grateful to the incredible champions, including some who are no longer with the company, my teammates and colleagues who supported me and my team throughout this journey."

"When the time is right, I am hopeful that I will find another incredible opportunity like Tesla, where I can drive impactful change and contribute to a meaningful mission with exceptional people. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this remarkable chapter."

Jason Wheeler, Tesla's former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), commented on Venkataratnam's post, "You did it right, Sreela. Congrats on an amazing run at a company that wasn't always easy to work at. Bravo!" She replied, "It is definitely not for the faint of heart!

According to Fortune, Venkataratnam is not the only senior employee who quit Tesla recently. who quit in recent months. In April, three executives quit in the space of two weeks, including longtime vice president of investor relations Martin Viecha; senior vice president Drew Baglino; and Rohan Patel, vice president of public policy and business development.