Redwood Materials loses COO amid layoffs, restructuring
Source: TechCrunch
Executive change
Redwood Materials chief operating officer Chris Lister is retiring, TechCrunch has learned. Lister, a former vice president who led operations at Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory, joined Redwood in late 2023 as chief supply chain officer and was promoted to COO in 2024, bringing him closer to founder and CEO JB Straubel.
The company confirmed Lister’s departure to TechCrunch on Thursday. “We wish him the best in his retirement,” a spokesperson said via email.
Layoffs and restructuring
Lister’s retirement comes just days after Redwood Materials laid off roughly 10 % of its workforce—about 135 employees. The cuts were part of a restructuring aimed at supporting the company’s growing energy‑storage business, as outlined by Straubel in an internal email viewed by TechCrunch. Redwood has recently signed deals with automaker Rivian and AI company Crusoe to provide refurbished batteries for grid storage.
Other recent executive departures
- Bradley Mayhew, vice president of integrated supply chain (former Tesla employee), left earlier this month, according to LinkedIn.
- Guillermo Urquiza, vice president of mechanical engineering (also a former Tesla employee), departed in March.
- Carlos Lozado, vice president of manufacturing, exited earlier this year for a leadership role at Panasonic, per LinkedIn.
Redwood declined specific comment on these departures but noted Straubel’s all‑staff email emphasizing a reduction in management layers.
Company outlook
Straubel told employees that “parts of the company have expanded faster than needed” but expressed optimism:
“I’m more excited than ever with our path ahead as we build the most integrated and cost‑effective critical materials and energy‑storage business in the world. We are confident that we can deliver on our critical projects with a smaller team that is more focused. We have successfully adapted to changes in the market that have bankrupted many of our competitors.”
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