Slate Hires New Head of Production, Adam Blackhaut (Ford, GM & Lucid Veteran)

[cadblu]

Slate hires new Head of Production

EV startup Slate Auto has hired a manufacturing leader with nearly 15 years of experience across General Motors, Lucid Motors, and Ford Motor Company — as it prepares to begin production of its low-cost electric pickup at a former printing plant in Indiana later this year.

Adam Backhaut joined Slate as Senior Manufacturing Leader this week, according to his updated LinkedIn profile.

 

[cadblu]

This is the second strategic hire for Slate following Yeagar as head of sales. Both have prior Lucid experience, working in key operations in a major EV startup. Positive sign to have experienced leaders in place as production starts later this year.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

That or hire experience at a bargain rate! 😂

 

[Letas]

Seems to be further evidence that Chris is being welcomed to the exit door

 

[bloo]

Seems to be further evidence that Chris is being welcomed to the exit door

I'm thinking the same thing. It seems like her area of responsibility is shrinking.

 

[cadblu]

I'm thinking the same thing. It seems like her area of responsibility is shrinking.

Yeah, suddenly the spotlight has been shifted away from Barman, and seemingly focused on the two new hires. But I also think it’s a reflection of the unique skill set she brings to the table, a proven hands-on engineer that will solve the ‘ground zero’ problems on the production floor before they turn into show stoppers. Now, the new team members can stress over the high level “30,000 feet” sales and production issues while Chris does what she does best.

 

[bloo]

Yeah, suddenly the spotlight has been shifted away from Barman, and seemingly focused on the two new hires. But I also think it’s a reflection of the unique skill set she brings to the table, a proven hands-on engineer that will solve the ‘ground zero’ problems on the production floor before they turn into show stoppers. Now, the new team members can stress over the high level “30,000 feet” sales and production issues while Chris does what she does best.

I feel that people who matter saw some of the design missteps made under her watch.

 

[SichuanHot]

I feel that people who matter saw some of the design missteps made under her watch.

Like that horrendous Q&A video?

 

[bloo]

Like that horrendous Q&A video?

Not a design misstep, but it counts.

 

[sodamo]

I feel that people who matter saw some of the design missteps made under her watch.

I would disagree, but I suspect you’re more negative than I am. i think, people think she took in to an appropriate place and now she can refocus in areas in more need.

 

[sodamo]

The rushing of many here to fault Barman for getting replaced in various roles reminds me of my wife a few years back. We’d go to a neighborhood gathering and she’d always ask me why neighbor Bob was never invited. so I asked the various hosts. No, we invited Bob, he declined to come. Quite a different perspective than my wife assumed. Could be same here, you guys just assume the worst. Do better 😁

 

[KevinRS]

I don't see that there is any shift in focus to the 2 new hires. There has only been the announcement of the 2 new hires, not like they are out doing a bunch of interviews instead of Chris Barman. The whole company seems to have a pause on releasing the kind of info we are all waiting for until their June announcements.

 

[Shrink36s]

I won't speculate because I don't find use in it. I will say that as any company ramps up for the delivery of their product, they always need talent in new roles they did not need before. A skeleton crew to get things going, to begin to build a base, and then hire to fill in those specialized roles that are needed to deliver.
Whether it's automotive, websites, or bakery, the closer you get to opening the doors wide to customers, the more you're going to need. Concept to production is a process.

 

[Mac-Tyson]

I'm thinking the same thing. It seems like her area of responsibility is shrinking.

I don't think so it seems like her position just got focused to what she was primarily handling before the reveal. Slate also was hiring for Senior Executive Assistant who would work for the CEO and President (of which she's the only one I know of at this point). So she's out of the C-Suite but she's still part of Senior Leadership.