Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) marketing executive George Blankenship has apparently left the automaker. That’s according to Dana Hull of the San Jose Mercury News.
Blankenship leaves his mark on Tesla
Blankenship is credited with designing the look and feel of the Tesla showrooms. The 60-year-old was in charge of Tesla’s retail operations and showroom experiences. The website reports that Blankenship said via email that he is retiring so that he can spend more time with his family, including his four grandchildren.
Currently Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) still lists him as vice president of sales and ownership experience on its website. However, the San Jose Mercury News spotted a change on his LinkedIn profile, which lists him as “Director of Smiles for the Blankenship Family.” The site reports that he departed his position at Tesla “a few weeks ago.
Blankenship has been with Tesla since 2010 when Musk convinced him to leave Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), where he designed the look of the Apple retail stores. Tesla has not officially announced his departure yet, and it is unclear yet exactly who will fill Blankenship’s shoes. Whoever it is, however, has a tough act to follow.
Tesla still weathering storms
Meanwhile, the automaker continues to deal with a number of issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the recent Model S fires, denying the automaker’s claim that it requests the investigation. Although none of those riding in the Model S sedans were injured or killed in those fires, they have continued to be a focal point in the media, enraging CEO Elon Musk because of how rare fires are in their vehicles when compared to fires in gasoline vehicles.
Nonetheless, drivers still adore their Model S sedans. Consumer Reports revealed today that Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Model S received the highest rating for owner satisfaction among its subscriber survey.
