2027 Slate Pickup Test Drive Review by Motortrend : fun and reasonably nimble

[Johnologue]

No, he knows how to develop online stores. That's what he did for Amazon and that's what he's doing for Slate (IMO).

So, why is he the CEO, instead of something like "Head of Digital Marketplaces"?

If Barman wanted to give up the CEO position because it was too big to focus on everything and would be detrimental to her finishing the job of creating the FN and the Warsaw facility to build it, then that should have been made clear. If her stepping down from the CEO position was for personal reasons, family/work life balance, a medical situation, etc. then that to should have been stated.

I wouldn't expect an explanation, and I think an answer like that would just make people more suspicious and uneasy. Keeping it relatively low-key was the correct move regardless of the reason. Doesn't mean we have to be happy about not knowing, but I wouldn't say anything "should" have been communicated differently.

It's not our company, even if we want to see it succeed. I don't believe we're irrelevant, but that's not our part.

 

[danielt1263]

So, why is he the CEO, instead of something like "Head of Digital Marketplaces"?

Lets you know what the investors consider most important, yes?

 

[tubes]

I've been watching you guys from a distance. All I can add is something that probably reiterates what Johnologue said. Any answer will be picked apart. No answer will be picked apart. We know nothing, and a private company has no obligation to the public.

When I worked for a startup of 200 people, it was small enough that we all knew the CEO at least a little. We knew where he was guiding the company. He was also the founder. One Monday we came to work and he was gone, with a memo from the Chair of the Board saying he left to "spend time with his family." What a bunch of BS. We knew exactly why he was fired: he had a different vision than the B.O.D. and VCs. Poof! Gone just like that. Yet we had a BOD feeding us a constant line of BS, and a replacement CEO who was a piece of work.

 

[E90400K]

So, why is he the CEO, instead of something like "Head of Digital Marketplaces"?


I wouldn't expect an explanation, and I think an answer like that would just make people more suspicious and uneasy. Keeping it relatively low-key was the correct move regardless of the reason. Doesn't mean we have to be happy about not knowing, but I wouldn't say anything "should" have been communicated differently.

It's not our company, even if we want to see it succeed. I don't believe we're irrelevant, but that's not our part.

I agree with you, it's not our company and not for us to chose the message.

But as a prospective customer of a new vehicle that is an EV from a new EV startup, with tight private equity funding and a fast turn to market, adding any sort of controversy in the management side adds to the anxiety of dropping $25K on the prospect. If it was a CEO change at Ford, or GM, I'd not have a concern and not really care about the spin to explain it.

My biggest concern about Barman's move is the timing. I've gambled $300 so far, NBD. Throwing another $25K at it, well that's real money, isn't it?

 

[E90400K]

I've been watching you guys from a distance. All I can add is something that probably reiterates what Johnologue said. Any answer will be picked apart. No answer will be picked apart. We know nothing, and a private company has no obligation to the public.

When I worked for a startup of 200 people, it was small enough that we all knew the CEO at least a little. We knew where he was guiding the company. He was also the founder. One Monday we came to work and he was gone, with a memo from the Chair of the Board saying he left to "spend time with his family." What a bunch of BS. We knew exactly why he was fired: he had a different vision than the B.O.D. and VCs. Poof! Gone just like that. Yet we had a BOD feeding us a constant line of BS, and a replacement CEO who was a piece of work.

What is the rest of the story?

 

[tubes]

What is the rest of the story?

Very simple. The new CEO was a good looking guy who spoke well. The VCs were intent on selling the company. Rats like me started jumping ship. They told me if I stayed, I'd get 10k options at 10 cents a share. I left anyway. Company sold 1 year later for 12.1 cents. I therefore lost $210. Ha ha ha. New merged company went bankrupt 2 years after that.

 

[E90400K]

Very simple. The new CEO was a good looking guy who spoke well. The VCs were intent on selling the company. Rats like me started jumping ship. They told me if I stayed, I'd get 10k options at 10 cents a share. I left anyway. Company sold 1 year later for 12.1 cents. I therefore lost $210. Ha ha ha. New merged company went bankrupt 2 years after that.

Man, what a windfall! Wow. 🤣

 

[E90400K]

<sarcasm>

 

[E90400K]

Lets you know what the investors consider most important, yes?

Exactly my concern. What do they consider most important?

 

[AZFox]

As @Johnologue said above, where is the evidence in Faricy's resume he is a company builder? I can't find it nor see it.

You appear to be bound and determined not to find it or see it.

Faricy built and scaled Amazon Marketplace, which itself helped build and scale successful growth-stage companies.

In this 153-view video Faricy provides a story about helping build the company that makes TRX straps, a product I use several times per week. Then he briefly discusses some involvement with expansion regarding product fulfillment. Then he discusses helping growing businesses deal with their financing challenges during their growth phase.

 

[AZFox]

I just don't ssee what Faricy brings to the CEO position more than what Barman already accomplished.

That's patently obvious. You call home a "suit" over and over, and seem pretty bitter about him appearing on the scene.

Slate Automotive started out as a tightly-knit group of mostly automotive designers and engineers who know how to develop vehicles. Chris Barman, with her reputation for bridging the gap between engineering and management, was ideal for that stage of the company's existence.

Now things are different. Those talents are still necessary, but some other talents are also necessary that weren't necessary when she was the CEO at the beginning.

 

[E90400K]

You appear to be bound and determined not to find it or see it.

Faricy built and scaled Amazon Marketplace, which itself helped build and scale successful growth-stage companies.

In this 153-view video Faricy provides a story about helping build the company that makes TRX straps, a product I use several times per week. Then he briefly discusses some involvement with expansion regarding product fulfillment. Then he discusses helping growing businesses deal with their financing challenges during their growth phase.

I still think Barman's skill set is far more important to Slate's success than what Faricy's Amazon experience and skill set brings to Slate. If Faricy was hired by Barman and managed by her, I could see bringing him onto the team. Her automotive industry experience is far more broad and in depth to the overall endeavor that is Slate Auto.

 

[E90400K]

That's patently obvious. You call him a "suit" over and over, and seem pretty bitter about him appearing on the scene.

Slate Automotive started out as a tightly-knit group of mostly automotive designers and engineers who know how to develop vehicles. Chris Barman, with her reputation for bridging the gap between engineering and management, was ideal for that stage of the company's existence.

Now things are different. Those talents are still necessary, but some other talents are also necessary that weren't necessary when she was the CEO at the beginning.

Come on man, I'm not bitter. I have no relationship to Barman whatsoever; I could care less how she feels about the change. My only concern here is my $25K commitment in Slate. I see the CEO change as an unusual and ill-timed decision. I'd like to know the real basis for the decision. That's it.

I just believe the product development and execution of the FN and the next model as more important than the e-commerce side. Simple.

Tesla, Rivina, Lucid all have built EV from the ground up and sell direct to consumer. It's not new. And did not Slate just hire Lucid's e-commerce VP?

 

[2thlesswithta2s]

I've been watching you guys from a distance. All I can add is something that probably reiterates what Johnologue said. Any answer will be picked apart. No answer will be picked apart. We know nothing, and a private company has no obligation to the public.

When I worked for a startup of 200 people, it was small enough that we all knew the CEO at least a little. We knew where he was guiding the company. He was also the founder. One Monday we came to work and he was gone, with a memo from the Chair of the Board saying he left to "spend time with his family." What a bunch of BS. We knew exactly why he was fired: he had a different vision than the B.O.D. and VCs. Poof! Gone just like that. Yet we had a BOD feeding us a constant line of BS, and a replacement CEO who was a piece of work.

You left out the most important part: was the startup successful? Are they now a cash positive business, or did they get a big buyout? Or did they belly-flop into obscurity?

 

[CEW]

I still think Barman's skill set is far more important to Slate's success than what Faricy's Amazon experience and skill set brings to Slate. If Faricy was hired by Barman and managed by her, I could see bringing him onto the team. Her automotive industry experience is far more broad and in depth to the overall endeavor that is Slate Auto.

Barman - as of last year and hopefully still is ? - on Slate's Board of Directors as is: Faricy, Copes, Jeff Wilke, Miles Arnone, Mark Walter, William Barker, THOMAS TULL, Christian (Walter?)
That is Key - they are responsible for making BIG decisions for the company going forward.
If you get a chance check out THOMAS TULL - super interesting "everyman" Billionaire who still lives in Pittsburgh are and went from poverty growing up with a single mom to becoming a Billionaire, a super successful movie producer (no longer) - and so impressive to ME: a die-hard Rock and Roller - who formed a very successful current Soul-country-Rock band called GHOST HOUNDS - who all live in the Pittsburgh area. Check them out! They got to tour with Rolling Stones (2019) and ZZ TOP and still do touring (a few dates on East Coast in August). They have a bunch of albums out too. Really good! He formed them, plays with them, and writes songs for the band
Copes, Jeff Wilke, Miles Arnone, Mark Walter, William Barker, THOMAS TULL, Christian Walter are all from RE: BUILD and most are still on the Board there as well.
https://www.forbes.com/profile/thomas-tull/