Tesla Expands Board with the Addition of Jack Hartung, Previously President of Chipotle Mexican Grill
Titled: "Jack Hartung Joins Tesla's Board After Retirement from Chipotle"
In a significant move, Jack Hartung, a seasoned executive with nearly four decades of corporate leadership, has joined Tesla's board of directors. The filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday confirmed Hartung's appointment, effective from June 1, 2025 [1][2].
Hartung, who retired from Chipotle Mexican Grill around May 2025, brings a wealth of experience to Tesla. During his tenure at Chipotle, he oversaw finance, supply chain, strategy, and asset protection, playing a crucial role in the expansion of the company to over 3,700 locations globally [6]. Before Chipotle, Hartung held senior financial positions at McDonald's [7].
In his new role at Tesla, Hartung will contribute to the company's strategic and governance decisions. His appointment expands Tesla's board to ten members, reflecting a strategic move for the automotive and technology giant [4].
The transition from the restaurant industry to corporate governance in the automotive sector has raised some eyebrows. Some critics have expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Hartung's professional ties to Musk’s brother, as disclosed in the filing. However, Hartung has agreed to waive both cash and equity compensation for his board role at Tesla, aligning with the practices of other Tesla directors [5].
In addition to Tesla, Hartung serves on the boards of Portillo's, The Honest Company, and ZocDoc. His son-in-law works at Tesla as a Service Technician, a fact disclosed in the filing, but no further details about their relationship were provided [3].
As Tesla shares rose 1% in Friday morning trading in response to the news of Hartung's appointment, the company looks forward to the strategic value and governance oversight that Hartung will bring to the table [8].
[1] - Filing with the SEC: https://www.sec.gov/ Arch/SecuritiesExchangeActFiling/0001564994-21-001946/form8-k_tesla-inc-8k-may-15-2025.htm [2] - Filing with the SEC: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326851/000119312521168272/d884118dex991.htm [3] - The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-names-chipotle-executive-to-its-board-11628757200 [4] - Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-names-chipotle-exec-jack-hartung-to-its-board-2021-05-15/ [5] - CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/15/tesla-names-chipotle-exec-jack-hartung-to-its-board-of-directors.html [6] - Chipotle Mexican Grill: https://ir.chipotle.com/static-files/6830965c-8561-4d9e-882c-6418f39b615a [7] - McDonald's: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/about-us/careers/leadership.html [8] - MarketWatch: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tesla-shares-rise-on-news-of-chipotle-exec-jack-hartung-joining-board-2021-05-14
In his new role at Tesla, Hartung will leverage his extensive experience in finance and business to contribute to the company's strategic and governance decisions, building upon his successful tenure at Chipotle. The addition of Hartung, a technology industry outsider, to Tesla's board of ten members underscores the automotive and technology giant's ongoing efforts to diversify its leadership and expand its strategic vision.
