Zoox hires Intel executive as its new CEO

Self-driving vehicle developer Zoox has hired Aicha Evans, a former senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Intel, as its new CEO, the company said Monday.

The announcement comes weeks after Zoox, which has raised approximately $750 million, won approval in California to carry members of the public as part of its autonomous ride-hailing operations, so long as a human safety driver remains behind the wheel.

"I'm thrilled to join Zoox and challenge the status quo with an autonomous mobility system built from the ground up," Evans said. "Mobility is approaching a major inflection point, and Zoox has set itself apart from entrenched players as the only company creating a solution purpose-built to meet the needs of a fully autonomous future."

Evans starts her new job Feb. 26. She replaces Tim Kentley-Klay, a co-founder of the company who was forced out in August. Zoox was started in 2014, and has been developing its own autonomous-driving system, electric vehicle platform and ride-hailing network for use in cities.

Evans spent 12 years at Intel, where she most recently served as chief strategy officer and led the company's efforts to pivot from a PC-centric company to one that revolves around data. That was a seismic transition, and a similar one may await in her new job.

"We believe now more than ever that the full realization of autonomous mobility is a radical departure from last century's car architecture, and that required a completely reimagined vehicle and AI solution," said Jesse Levinson, a Zoox co-founder. "I'm excited to partner with Aicha as we forge our own path and show the world what the next generation of mobility looks like."