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"Announced CEO transition..." Rawlinson out as CEO

Just a quick note here of gratitude, thanks so much to Peter Rawlinson for making a dream a reality. The cars that you and your team created are revolutionary, and I enjoy my AGT as much today as I did when I first got it 2 years ago. I think with most endeavors, there is a leader for the vision, a leader for the development, a leader for the execution, and a leader for the continued success. Very rarely it is the same person for all 4 as each stage requires a very unique and different skill set. To have successfully navigated even the first two phases is a complement in the highest honor. Wishing the board great wisdom in finding a new battle-tested and passionate CEO that can spearhead this car company to the prominence it deserves. There is much promise on the horizon. Thanks again Peter!
 
Rawlinson is an engineer and a visionary. I think he has done an amazing job designing and manufacturing incredible cars. A public company CEO requires different skill set. I am not sure why the change was done so rapidly. Usually, public company CEO changes that happen fast are due to cause. However, they are keeping him in a different role and paying him well. Therefore, it was not for cause.

I hope they find the right CEO to take Lucid to the next level. I am seeing this as a positive.
 
Andretex said:
Rawlinson is an engineer and a visionary. I think he has done an amazing job designing and manufacturing incredible cars. A public company CEO requires different skill set. I am not sure why the change was done so rapidly. Usually, public company CEO changes that happen fast are due to cause. However, they are keeping him in a different role and paying him well. Therefore, it was not for cause.

I hope they find the right CEO to take Lucid to the next level. I am seeing this as a positive.
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I agree that the Rowlinson departure does not appear to be for cause. I suspect they would have to disclose that anyway. He is also staying on as an advisor — but only to the Chair of the Board, not the company. It’s peculiar. Would have been nice if Peter were present on the earnings call to add clarity as to his ongoing role.
 
Andretex said:
Rawlinson is an engineer and a visionary. I think he has done an amazing job designing and manufacturing incredible cars. A public company CEO requires different skill set. I am not sure why the change was done so rapidly. Usually, public company CEO changes that happen fast are due to cause. However, they are keeping him in a different role and paying him well. Therefore, it was not for cause.

I hope they find the right CEO to take Lucid to the next level. I am seeing this as a positive.
Click to expand...

In employment law, "cause" is something of a technical term. It usually means malfeasance, such as violation of law or company policies. Removal due to falling short of expected results in some area is more often termed "performance-related". People removed for cause almost invariably have all ties with an enterprise severed. People removed from a position for performance -- especially very senior people -- sometimes transfer to other roles and maintain some sort of relationship with the enterprise.

I feel certain Rawlinson was not removed for cause. Whether the Board was disappointed in some key aspect of his performance is a murkier question, particularly in light of the statement the Board released emphasizing that there was no daylight between them and Rawlinson on the policies, goals, and operations of the company. It communicated a sense of amicability, mutual understanding, and even gratitude that is often absent from such statements.
 
I personally adore Peter, and the team he put together is truly special. However, I think something like this has be coming for so many reasons. The fact he wasn't kept on as CTO, is only a resource to the chairman at the request of the chairman, not being on the ER call, and also not staying on until a new CEO has been identified in my eyes is truly telling.

I hope the team can continue to embrace the core ideology that came with Peter, evolve it and make it something unique to Lucid.

Finally, I hope Peter holds no ill will against Lucid; perhaps certain decisions makers but hopefully not the company. His knowledge is too dangerous in the hands of a competitor.
 
NoseyReporter said:
Finally, I hope Peter holds no ill will against Lucid; perhaps certain decisions makers but hopefully not the company. His knowledge is too dangerous in the hands of a competitor.
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I'd be shocked if Rawlinson's compensation package didn't include a hefty non-compete inducement of some fashion.

Courts are becoming increasingly hostile to such agreements, and California is one of the states that now bans non-compete clauses in employment contracts, even for employers based outside the state. However, there are other ways to structure an inducement not to compete if done cleverly enough.

Keep in mind, too, that all the significant engineering breakthroughs Rawlinson brought to Lucid are covered by patents that are owned by the company. It would be Rawlinson's general engineering talent and creativity that would be a competitive threat, not anything specific he knows about Lucid technology. And now 68 years old, wealthy, and coming off some intensely grueling years at Lucid that have left him markedly aged, he may just be ready to move on to another phase of life.
 
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So, it looks like my heated exchange between hmp 10 and me , regarding Musk, was deleted.
Why?
Are mods bein biased? Hopefully not.
I'm hoping that this site is still a free to open / view exchange?
Let's see.
 
RM-S8 said:
So, it looks like my heated exchange between hmp 10 and me , regarding Musk, was deleted.
Why?
Are mods bein biased? Hopefully not.
I'm hoping that this site is still a free to open / view exchange?
Let's see.
Click to expand...
Because it got personal and political which is not allowed. There's not an open/free exchange when insults start getting thrown around at each other.
 
hydbob said:
Because it got personal and political which is not allowed. There's not an open/free exchange when insults start getting thrown around at each other.
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I understand. But did I start that?
I just said that I like Musk.
Right after that, hmb10 went bananas (no pun intended). Why don't you reprimand him?
 
RM-S8 said:
I understand. But did I start that?
I just said that I like Musk.
Right after that, hmb10 went bananas (no pun intended). Why don't you reprimand him?
Click to expand...

I don't really mind that the post was taken down, as the discussion never should have gotten into Musk on either side, although you were the first to bring him into the thread. But I'm perplexed about the comment that we were throwing insults at each other. My post could certainly have been deemed an insult to Musk, but I didn't direct any insult at you personally. You said that you like him. I described what I thought of Musk and just said that it was good to know -- as in interesting -- that you liked him. I'm sorry if anyone thought I was directing an insult at you personally.
 
hmp10 said:
I'd be shocked if Rawlinson's compensation package didn't include a hefty non-compete inducement of some fashion.

Courts are becoming increasingly hostile to such agreements, and California is one of the states that now bans non-compete clauses in employment contracts, even for employers based outside the state. However, there are other ways to structure an inducement not to compete if done cleverly enough.

Keep in mind, too, that all the significant engineering breakthroughs Rawlinson brought to Lucid are covered by patents that are owned by the company. It would be Rawlinson's general engineering talent and creativity that would be a competitive threat, not anything specific he knows about Lucid technology. And now 68 years old, wealthy, and coming off some intensely grueling years at Lucid that have left him markedly aged, he may just be ready to move on to another phase of life.
Click to expand...
True but we live in a country where corporations regularly break rules and ask for forgiveness after. Time and time again, patents get infringed and tied up in court for years. Its really a common practice especially with larger companies that essentially have limitless resources. This happened between Tesla and Rivian a few years back. Rivian started hiring Tesla employees out from under Tesla. It has taken nearly 4-5 years to reach a settlement, details of which are unknown. But I bet Rivian kept the Tesla employees and I'm willing to bet that the tribal knowledge that Tesla was trying to protect has been absorbed into Rivian.
 
I don't have a horse in this race other than I think this forum should remain politically neutral and for those that love the Lucid brand and vehicle. The thread is ""Announced CEO transition..." Rawlinson out as CEO" and the discussions have centered around how that will impact Lucid directly and in the future. Musk really doesn't have anything to do with that, and thus, discussing his politics or him as a person would not fit in this thread, and since the forum is non-political, political-leaning threads may not be a topic allowed on here.
hmp10 said:
I don't really mind that the post was taken down, as the discussion never should have gotten into Musk on either side, although you were the first to bring him into the thread. But I'm perplexed about the comment that we were throwing insults at each other. My post could certainly have been deemed an insult to Musk, but I didn't direct any insult at you personally. You said that you like him. I described what I thought of Musk and just said that it was good to know -- as in interesting -- that you liked him. I'm sorry if anyone thought I was directing an insult at you personally.
Click to expand...
 
NoseyReporter said:
True but we live in a country where corporations regularly break rules and ask for forgiveness after. Time and time again, patents get infringed and tied up in court for years. Its really a common practice especially with larger companies that essentially have limitless resources. This happened between Tesla and Rivian a few years back. Rivian started hiring Tesla employees out from under Tesla. It has taken nearly 4-5 years to reach a settlement, details of which are unknown. But I bet Rivian kept the Tesla employees and I'm willing to bet that the tribal knowledge that Tesla was trying to protect has been absorbed into Rivian.
Click to expand...
He's staying on to advise the chairman, I think they probably did this to keep him close to the brand and on payroll, which will significantly reduce the chance he'll take the knowledge elsewhere.
 
NoseyReporter said:
True but we live in a country where corporations regularly break rules and ask for forgiveness after. Time and time again, patents get infringed and tied up in court for years. Its really a common practice especially with larger companies that essentially have limitless resources. This happened between Tesla and Rivian a few years back. Rivian started hiring Tesla employees out from under Tesla. It has taken nearly 4-5 years to reach a settlement, details of which are unknown. But I bet Rivian kept the Tesla employees and I'm willing to bet that the tribal knowledge that Tesla was trying to protect has been absorbed into Rivian.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree in principle, but I have a feeling that people who know and have worked with Rawlinson don't worry about his engaging in the kind of vindictiveness that would damage Lucid.
 
hmp10 said:
I don't disagree in principle, but I have a feeling that people who know and have worked with Rawlinson don't worry about his engaging in the kind of vindictiveness that would damage Lucid.
Click to expand...
I don't think Peter would do that to Lucid either. Still his baby after all, even if he doesn't work there anymore. Nevertheless, still worth pointing out. I'm sure some companies have already approached him.
 
NoseyReporter said:
I don't think Peter would do that to Lucid either. Still his baby after all, even if he doesn't work there anymore. Nevertheless, still worth pointing out. I'm sure some companies have already approached him.
Click to expand...

I'd also guess that a good part of Rawlinson's financial package includes stock options and restricted stock units. A straightforward way to incentivize him not to do anything that might damage Lucid would be simply to preserve or even extend his vesting schedules instead of tolling the vesting upon his departure as is often done in these cases.

We're probably getting way too far into the weeds of speculation with all this. I'm a lot more worried about the superb engineering team he assembled staying in place than I am about Rawlinson doing anything deliberate to damage the company.
 
hmp10 said:
I don't really mind that the post was taken down, as the discussion never should have gotten into Musk on either side, although you were the first to bring him into the thread. But I'm perplexed about the comment that we were throwing insults at each other. My post could certainly have been deemed an insult to Musk, but I didn't direct any insult at you personally. You said that you like him. I described what I thought of Musk and just said that it was good to know -- as in interesting -- that you liked him. I'm sorry if anyone thought I was directing an insult at you personally.
Click to expand...
Cool, let's berry the hatchet.
On the lighter note, I'll give you something we can both (hopefully) laugh at.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1894964794567860272
 
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