In a surprising move, Tesla's Chief Financial Officer, Zachary Kirkhorn, announced his departure from the company after 13 years. Kirkhorn, who amassed a fortune of $590 million during his tenure, will be leaving at the end of the year. His departure comes as a shock, especially considering that board members had discussed him as a potential successor to CEO Elon Musk. Kirkhorn's departure leaves questions about Tesla's succession planning and the future leadership of the company.

During Kirkhorn's time at Tesla, the company achieved significant milestones, including turning its first-ever profit in 2021. His contributions to the company's success earned him the nickname "Master of Coin," a reference to a character from the popular TV show "Game of Thrones." Kirkhorn's pay package was primarily comprised of Tesla shares and options, with a salary of $300,000 last year.

Tesla has named Vaibhav Taneja, the current Chief Accounting Officer, as Kirkhorn's successor. Taneja, who has been with Tesla since 2017, will take on the role of CFO in addition to his current duties. The 45-year-old executive has held various positions at Tesla and previously worked at SolarCity Corp., which was acquired by Tesla in 2016.

The news of Kirkhorn's departure had an impact on Tesla's stock, with shares slipping 2.4% in Monday afternoon trading. The electric vehicle sector as a whole experienced a broader sell-off, with Rivian and Lucid also seeing declines. Tesla's stock has had a remarkable year, soaring roughly 130% as the company continues to dominate the electric vehicle market.

Kirkhorn's departure comes at a crucial time for Tesla as the company prepares to launch its highly anticipated Cybertruck later this year. The departure raises questions about the company's future and who will eventually succeed Musk as CEO. Tesla's ongoing success will depend on a smooth transition and the ability of its new leadership to maintain the company's growth and profitability.

It is unclear why Kirkhorn made the decision to leave his profitable post, as no reason was given in the company's filing. Tesla has experienced tremendous growth during Kirkhorn's tenure, with the company posting better-than-expected Q2 numbers. Despite facing challenges such as supply chain issues and increased competition, Tesla managed to deliver 466,140 vehicles in the second quarter, up 10% from the previous quarter and 83% higher from a year earlier.

As Kirkhorn prepares to depart the company, he expressed pride in the work he has done at Tesla and being a part of the company for over 13 years. His departure marks the end of an era for Tesla, and the focus now shifts to the future leadership and direction of the electric vehicle giant.