Tesla's accounting chief exits company as departures continue

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tesla Inc.’s chief accounting officer has left the company, the latest in a string of management departures from the electric-car maker.

Eric Branderiz, who also served as corporate controller, left Tesla for personal reasons on Wednesday, according to a regulatory filing. Tesla shares dropped 1 percent to $325.87 as of 9:55 am ET. 

“Tesla appreciates Eric’s service to the company,” the carmaker said in the filing Thursday. A company spokesman declined to comment further.

Branderiz’s exit follows a spate of high-level management departures including Jon McNeill, president of global sales and service; Diarmuid O’Connell, vice president of business development; and Kurt Kelty, director of battery technology. CFO Jason Wheeler also left last year.

Tesla lists its dependence on CEO Elon Musk as a risk factor in securities filings and will have shareholders vote next month on an equity award valued at $2.6 billion aimed at keeping him with the company for the long term.

Tesla shares fell 0.6 percent to close at $327.17 on Friday.