Tesla human resources chief Valerie Capers Workman is leaving, she is one of the company’s most senior black leaders. Her departure cost Tesla a key defender after multiple racist controversies in recent years.
Workman confirmed in an email that she will join the professional networking firm Handshake next week as a chief legal officer. Her role as Tesla’s vice president of people ended this month, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Workman has been an important voice within Tesla on racial issues and has also played a key role in leading Tesla’s response to the risks of the new crown epidemic. The departure is one of the most significant changes to Tesla’s top leadership in recent months. In 2018, Tesla suffered a large number of executive departures, but with the company’s stock price soaring, the flow of people has basically stabilized.