Tesla names board chair to replace Elon Musk

Electric car pioneer Tesla yesterday named an Australian telecoms executive to chair its board of directors, after the controversial Elon Musk was forced by US authorities to step back from the role. The appointment of Robyn Denholm, chief financial officer with Telstra and already a Tesla board member, is effective immediately but she will serve out her six-month notice period with the Australian company, Tesla said in a statement.

Musk had to resign as Tesla chairman under a September arrangement with US regulators to settle fraud charges stemming from a tweet in which he said he planned to take the firm private and had financing to do it. Under that settlement he and Tesla each had to pay a $20 million fine but Musk was allowed to stay on as chief executive.

He will help ease the 55-year-old Denholm’s transition, Tesla said. “To ensure a smooth transition during the remainder of Robyn’s time at Telstra, Elon will be a resource to Robyn and provide any support that she requests in her role as chair,” the electric car maker said. Musk praised Denholm’s input in her time on Tesla’s board.

“Robyn has extensive experience in both the tech and auto industries, and she has made significant contributions as a Tesla board member over the past four years in helping us become a profitable company,” he said in the Tesla statement.