Ex-Waymo CFO Joins Self-Driving Startup Wayve
▼ Summary
– Elisa de Martel has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer at Wayve, replacing Max Warburton who is moving to a strategic advisory role.
– De Martel brings extensive financial leadership experience from previous roles at major tech companies including Apple, Carbon, and Waymo.
– Wayve is transitioning from development to commercial deployment of its automated driving technology for both robotaxis and passenger vehicles.
– The startup’s self-learning software approach appeals to automakers like Nissan and Stellantis because it does not rely on high-definition maps or custom hardware.
– Wayve has raised significant capital and recently launched public robotaxi trials in London, with expansions planned for cities like Tokyo.
Elisa de Martel, the former chief financial officer at Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle division Waymo, has been appointed to the same executive role at Wayve, a prominent startup in the self-driving technology sector. This strategic hire signals a major shift for Wayve as it transitions from its research and testing phases toward commercial deployment. The incoming CFO will replace Max Warburton, who served in the role since 2024. Warburton is transitioning into a strategic advisory role to continue supporting the leadership team.
De Martel’s arrival coincides with Wayve preparing to roll out its automated driving solutions across two distinct markets: robotaxis and consumer passenger vehicles. Based in Sunnyvale, California, she brings extensive experience from major tech firms. Her background includes serving as CFO at Carbon, an industrial 3D printing company, and spending eleven years as manufacturing finance director at Apple. Most recently, she led finances at Waymo from 2019 until January 2026. During her tenure, Waymo expanded its commercial operations into multiple cities and secured a $5.6 billion Series C funding round, which elevated its valuation beyond $45 billion.
Wayve, founded in 2017, is currently valued at approximately $8.5 billion. The company has drawn significant investor interest and automotive partnerships due to its unique software architecture. Unlike many competitors, Wayve utilizes an end-to-end neural network that does not depend on high-definition maps, custom hardware, or pre-coded rules. Instead, the system relies entirely on data to teach vehicles how to drive. This approach supports two primary product offerings: an “eyes on” assisted-driving system and an “eyes off” fully automated system designed for robotaxis or specific consumer vehicle environments.
The agnostic nature of Wayve’s technology has proven particularly appealing to automakers who are already committed to existing hardware configurations. To date, the company has raised $3.2 billion in funding. Its capabilities have also attracted interest from ride-hailing giant Uber, which aims to leverage more advanced versions of this technology for its own robotaxi deployments.
While de Martel’s financial credentials are impressive, insiders indicate that her deep technical expertise was a key factor in her selection by CEO Alex Kendall and other leadership members. In her new capacity, she will manage financial strategy, capital allocation, reporting, governance, treasury, and tax functions. Additionally, she will collaborate closely with the executive team on commercial negotiations, investor relations, and strategic partnerships.
Wayve has already established relationships with major manufacturers such as Nissan and Stellantis. Progress in the robotaxi sector is also accelerating; the company recently initiated public rides in London, accompanied by human safety operators, with launches in Tokyo anticipated soon. De Martel’s leadership will be critical as Wayve navigates the challenging transition from limited early-stage deployment to becoming a high-volume supplier in the automotive industry.
(Source: TechCrunch)
