Luminar Attracts Former Executives From Lyft, Apple and Meta, Microsoft

Rhea-AI Summary

Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR), a leader in automotive technology, announced the hiring of Dr. David Foster as Executive Vice President of Engineering and John Pinette as Senior Vice President of Communications. Dr. Foster, with a rich background from companies like Apple and Amazon, has a track record of launching major products. John Pinette, previously at Meta and Microsoft, brings extensive experience in global communications. Their recruitment aligns with Luminar's transition to production and deployment of LiDAR technology in passenger cars, aiming to enhance vehicle safety and industrialize this technology at scale. CEO Austin Russell emphasized the strategic timing and the expected positive impact on car safety and company growth.

Positive

• The hiring of Dr. David Foster and John Pinette brings valuable experience and leadership to Luminar, potentially accelerating its growth and product development.
• Their backgrounds from top-tier companies could enhance Luminar's credibility and operational capabilities in scaling LiDAR technology.
• The focus on industrializing LiDAR technology for widespread use in passenger cars could position Luminar advantageously in the automotive market.

Negative

• None.

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR), a leading global automotive technology company, today announced two new key executive hires to help guide the company through its next phase of rapid growth.

• Dr. David Foster joins Luminar as the Executive Vice President of Engineering. Dr. Foster's extensive experience includes executive and leadership positions at Lyft, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and other innovative technology companies. Throughout his career, Dr. Foster has successfully launched groundbreaking products from concept to high volume production – including such iconic devices as the iMac, MacBook, MacPro, Kindle, and Kindle Fire. Dr. Foster holds a BA, MA, and Doctorate in Philosophy in Electrical Engineering and Computer Vision from the University of Oxford.
• John Pinette joins Luminar as the Senior Vice President of Communications. Prior to Luminar, John led global communications at Meta. He was also Vice President for marketing and communications at Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen’s Vulcan. John also led communications at Pershing Square Capital Management and helped guide the $20B hedge fund through the European IPO of Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. John served as head of communications at Gates Ventures where he managed Bill Gates’ executive communications and helped to launch his popular blog, The Gates Notes. Additionally, John led the Asia-Pacific communications team for Google, and held various senior communications roles at Microsoft. He holds degrees in philosophy, history and theology.

“David and John are joining Luminar at a key moment for the company as we move to production and deployment of our LiDAR technology on broadly available passenger cars. Industrializing a complex, safety-critical technology at scale in the automotive industry requires a unique skill set. It calls for a special combination of business and engineering excellence, which David has repeatedly demonstrated in prior roles. As our technology will soon be on passenger cars, John’s extensive experience in managing communications for some of the biggest brands in the world will help us educate car buyers on the benefits of LiDAR technology and Luminar’s focus on their safety,” said Austin Russell, Luminar Founder and CEO.

“I am delighted to be joining Luminar at this exciting time for the company and the industry,” said David Foster. “The products in development at Luminar will make a profoundly positive impact on the lives of motorists around the world. It is an honor to join the team in the important mission of driving this critical safety feature into every future vehicle.”

“How Luminar technology will improve driver safety is the best kind of story to tell,” said John Pinette. “This cutting-edge technology will have immediate benefits to our communities. I’m excited to be joining my new colleagues in marketing and communications to get the word out on these groundbreaking advances.”

About Luminar

Luminar is a global automotive technology company ushering in a new era of vehicle safety and autonomy. For the past decade, Luminar has built an advanced hardware and software/AI platform to enable its more than 50 industry partners, including the majority of global automotive OEMs. From consumer vehicle programs with Volvo Cars and Mercedes-Benz to technology partnerships including NVIDIA and Mobileye, Luminar is poised to be the first automotive technology company to enable next-generation safety and autonomous capabilities for global production vehicles. For more information please visit www.luminartech.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240412443928/en/

Media Relations:

Milin Mehta

Press@luminartech.com

Investor Relations:

Aileen Smith

Investors@luminartech.com

Source: Luminar

FAQ

What recent executive changes has Luminar (LAZR) announced?

Luminar announced the hiring of Dr. David Foster as Executive Vice President of Engineering and John Pinette as Senior Vice President of Communications.

What experience does Dr. David Foster bring to Luminar (LAZR)?

Dr. David Foster has extensive experience in tech leadership, having worked at Lyft, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, and has been involved in launching products like the iMac and Kindle.

What role will John Pinette play at Luminar (LAZR)?

John Pinette, as the new Senior Vice President of Communications, will manage global communications strategies, particularly focusing on educating car buyers about the benefits of LiDAR technology.

How does Luminar (LAZR) plan to utilize its new executive hires?

Luminar plans to leverage the expertise of Dr. David Foster in engineering and John Pinette in communications to advance the production and deployment of LiDAR technology in passenger cars, enhancing vehicle safety and industrial scalability.

What impact does Luminar (LAZR) expect from integrating LiDAR technology into passenger cars?

Luminar expects that integrating LiDAR technology into passenger cars will significantly improve vehicle safety and contribute to the company's growth in the automotive technology market.