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File photo: Tesla investor Ross Gerber (left) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Picture credit: AP, X/@GerberKawasaki)
Ross Gerber, one of Tesla’s earliest investors, has renewed his call for Elon Musk to step down as Tesla’s CEO, arguing that Musk’s role in US President Donald Trump’s administration has made him too “divisive” and distracted from Tesla’s core business.
According to Sky News, Gerber said, “Tesla needs a new CEO… The business has been neglected for too long.” He also cited Tesla’s plummeting stock value, which has lost over $800 billion since December, and ongoing backlash over Musk’s involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Gerber, who has long been critical of Musk’s leadership, previously voiced concerns after Musk acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022, arguing that Tesla’s brand was suffering due to his divided attention.
He holds over 250,000 Tesla shares and believes the board has been “wildly negligent” in failing to curb Musk’s controversial statements.
Who is Ross Gerber?
- Ross Gerber is the co-founder, president, and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, a financial firm overseeing approximately $1.8 billion in assets as of 2022.
- Known for his expertise in technology, clean energy, transportation, and media investments, he has built a strong reputation in financial circles.
- Born on February 10, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, Gerber graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, earning degrees in Communications, Business Law, and Music.
- He started his career in investment management in the late 1990s, joining an independent firm affiliated with SunAmerica Securities. By 1997, he was managing a branch with 15 advisors, and by 1999, he was promoted to vice president and COO, overseeing over 200 advisors.
- In 2010, Gerber co-founded Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, which has grown significantly, managing a client base of over 10,000.
- The firm was recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2020. Gerber has also received accolades for promoting diversity and inclusion in the financial sector.
- A well-known figure in financial media, Gerber regularly appears on CNBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, and more.
- His social media presence has made him one of the most influential investors online, often using his platform to advocate for changes at Tesla.
- In 2022, when Musk bought Twitter, Gerber publicly warned that it would negatively impact Tesla’s reputation. More recently, with Musk focusing on Trump’s DOGE department, Gerber has reiterated that Tesla deserves a full-time CEO.
- Despite his strong views, Gerber remains a key Tesla investor, arguing that the company’s technology and products are among the best in the market.
- However, he maintains that Tesla’s “reputation has been destroyed by Elon Musk”, making a leadership change necessary to restore investor confidence.
