Despite appointing a board member without automotive experience, Tesla’s primary concern lies in promoting shares rather than shaping the company’s future, allowing CEO Elon Musk to continue his vision for the brand.
Tesla announced that Jack Hartung, previously renowned as the longtime president and COO of Chipotle, will be joining its board.
The corporation stated in its official declaration:
We are delighted to welcome Jack Hartung to Tesla’s Board of Directors as of June 1, 2025. Jack became an employee at Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. Since taking on his role in 2002, he has progressed through a series of senior management positions. Jack currently serves as President and Chief Technology Officer, having previously held the role of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, where he oversaw all financial and accounting operations, including supply chain, strategy, security, and asset protection.
Under Jack’s financial leadership over the past two decades, Chipotle has achieved significant milestones, expanding to more than 3,700 locations across the United States, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Jack was recognized as the “CFO of the Year” by the Orange County Enterprise Journal and the “Best CFO in the Restaurant Industry” by Institutional Investor. By the end of June, Jack is expected to complete his government tenure, at which point he will assume a senior advisory role with Chipotle. Jack sits on the board of directors at Portillo’s Incorporated and The Sincere Company Incorporated. and ZocDoc, Inc.
As Hartung joins the board at a pivotal moment, Tesla stands to benefit from his expertise and guidance.
The board is under intense scrutiny for its perceived lack of oversight in monitoring the chief executive, particularly Elon Musk.
Despite owning a minority stake in Tesla, Musk has long been perceived as wielding significant control over the company’s board. The issue ultimately resulted in the rescinding of his CEO compensation package by the deciding authority due to concerns that he was negotiating on his own behalf, rather than in the best interests of the company?
The board has consistently supported his transfer decisions, awarded him a staggering $55 billion CEO compensation package, and remained mute when he blackmailed Tesla shareholders by threatening to withhold AI development at Tesla unless given a larger, more controlling stake in the company, or else he would fire Tesla’s entire charging team as a demonstration of his authority.
Recently, Tesla has failed to acknowledge the ongoing protests at its stores and widespread product boycotts, sparked by Elon Musk’s increasing political activism, which has infuriated a significant segment of customers and the general public alike.
The board’s seemingly laid-back approach towards Musk can be largely attributed to its composition, which features individuals who have established business relationships with Musk or his entities outside of Tesla.
Board members are generously compensated to enable Musk’s creative freedom. In response to shareholder lawsuits alleging “excessive compensation,” the executives typically agreed to relinquish and rescind approximately $1 billion in compensation.
Over the past few months, Tesla’s board members have made significant contributions to their compensation packages by offering tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of Tesla shares.
In light of these considerations, Tesla is actively seeking a fresh board member with no ties to Elon Musk that could be perceived as “neutral” in their decision-making processes.
Upon reviewing Tesla’s disclosure regarding Hartung’s addition to the board, it was stated that his sole affiliation with Tesla or the board is his son-in-law’s employment at the company.
“A son-in-law of Mr. As an independent director on Tesla’s board since December 2016, Hartung serves in a non-executive capacity and is compensated accordingly; his personal life does not include any familial ties to Elon. Hartung. As a Service Technician at Tesla, he has earned a total compensation package of approximately $124,000, including the value of equity incentives, for the fiscal year 2024. This compensation was determined in alignment with Tesla’s standard practices for employees with analogous qualifications, responsibilities, and roles.
Despite this, the details surrounding Hartung’s relationship with Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother and a longtime member of the board, remained undisclosed.
From 2016 to 2019, Kimball served on Chipotle’s board of directors concurrently with Hartung holding a senior government position within the organization.
