Exclusive: Lucid’s Strategy SVP Resigns, Marking 13th Exec Exit Since Oct. 2023

Lucid Motors‘ Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development Claudia Gast has resigned from the electric vehicle maker, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The departure marks the thirteenth exit of a C-level or vice president in approximately two and a half years for the Saudi-backed company, continuing a leadership exodus that has seen nearly its entire executive team turn over since late 2023.

Gast is the second senior vice president to leave Lucid in three months.

Eric Bach, who served as Senior Vice President of Product and Chief Engineer, departed in early November.

A person close to the matter later told EV that Bach had been ousted — information the executive confirmed in a subsequent lawsuit against the company.

Strategic Role

According to Lucid‘s website, Gast was responsible for “building out Lucid’s mid- and long-term strategic direction, developing new business models, and cultivating partnerships across the automotive and technology space.”

Gast joined Lucid in December 2022 as Vice President and Head of Strategy and Business Development.

She was promoted to Senior Vice President in March 2025, less than a year before her departure.

According to the executive’s LinkedIn, Gast was first tasked with “leading Company OKRs and partnering with the rest of the leadership team to define Objectives and Key Results that will position Lucid for long-term profitability and scale.”

Gast holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Her exit comes less than a year before Lucid is scheduled to begin production of its third model — a mid-size SUV built on a new platform that will underpin three vehicles, including an off-road variant.

Gast did not immediately respond when contacted by EV.

Leadership Exodus

Lucid has lost its CEO, CFO, general counsel, and most of its senior leadership since October 2023.

CFO Sherry House resigned in December 2023, fourteen months into her tenure.

Former CEO Peter Rawlinson transitioned to a senior advisory role in February 2025, announced minutes after the company released its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings.

The board initiated a CEO search in February “with the support of a leading executive search firm.”

Nearly a year later, a permanent replacement has not been announced, with former Chief Operating Officer Marc Winterhoff continuing to serve as interim CEO.

Only two members of the original leadership team remain: Derek Jenkins, Senior Vice President of Design and Brand, and Emad Dlala, Senior Vice President of Powertrains and Product.

Dlala has assumed broader responsibility, overseeing all product development including vehicle engineering, digital systems, and software.

Departures Since Oct. 2023

The exodus includes two C-suite officers, three senior vice presidents, five vice presidents, plus heads of European operations and investor relations.

Achim Pantfoerder, Vice President of Program Management, left in October 2023.

Michael Bell, Senior Vice President of Digital, departed in May 2024.

Derrick Carty, Vice President of Platform Software Engineering, exited in August 2024.

Matthew Everitt left in September 2024, ten months after joining as Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

Kevin Callanan, Vice President of Supply Chain and Procurement, departed the same month.

Margaret Burgraff, Vice President of Software Quality and Validation, left in January 2025.

Andrea Soriani, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, exited in October 2024.

Alexander Lutz, Managing Director for Europe, departed in December 2024. Steven David, Senior Vice President of Operations, left exactly a year ago — in February 2025.

Maynard Um, Head of Investor Relations, announced his departure in May 2025. Jeri Ford, Vice President of Quality, left last October.

The EV maker’s stock has plunged by 60.3% over the past twelve months despite the 1 for 10 reverse stock split announced last July and executed a month later.

New Hires

Lucid appointed four senior executives in May and promoted two more last November.

Erwin Raphael, who joined in September 2024 as Vice President of Revenue, was elevated to Senior Vice President of Revenue to lead global sales and service operations.

Akerho “AK” Oghoghomeh, a former Beyond Meat and Red Bull executive, was named Senior Vice President of Marketing.

Jason Ryska became Vice President of Global Manufacturing Engineering. Dr. Kay Stepper was appointed Vice President of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems and Autonomous Driving.

Adrian Price was named Senior Vice President of Operations.