Tesla IPO architect joins Redwood Materials as it expands beyond batteries

Deepak Ahuja, the financial architect behind Tesla’s 2010 initial public offering and a two-term CFO who guided the automaker through some of its most turbulent years, has taken the same role at Redwood Materials. In an exclusive conversation, Ahuja told TechCrunch it remains “too early” to discuss any potential public offering for the battery recycling and materials company.

Ahuja’s arrival signals a strategic pivot for Redwood Materials, which is aggressively expanding beyond its core battery recycling operations. The company, founded by former Tesla CTO JB Straubel, has been scaling up efforts to produce anode and cathode components directly, aiming to close the loop on the EV supply chain. With Ahuja on board, Redwood gains deep expertise in capital markets and financial discipline honed during Tesla’s high-growth, high-stakes era.

While Ahuja downplayed immediate IPO chatter, his appointment naturally invites speculation about Redwood’s long-term exit strategy. The company has already raised significant funding from investors including Amazon and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and its pivot toward domestic battery materials production aligns with U. S. policy goals around energy security and supply chain independence.

For now, Ahuja’s focus is on strengthening Redwood’s financial foundation as it transitions from a recycling specialist into a full-fledged materials manufacturer. The move underscores how deeply Tesla’s alumni network continues to shape the broader clean energy economy, one strategic hire at a time.