Marc Whitten, a longtime tech executive based in the Seattle area, was recently appointed as CEO of Cruise, a self-driving company backed by GM. Previously, he held roles at companies such as Unity Software, Amazon, Sonos, and Microsoft, where he was a founding engineer on the Xbox team. Whitten expressed his excitement in joining Cruise due to its mission, technology, and the incredible team driving the company forward.
Whitten’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Cruise, as the company has faced challenges such as safety incidents involving its autonomous vehicles leading to fleet grounding, layoffs, and the resignation of its CEO Kyle Vogt. Despite these setbacks, Cruise continues to push forward with its mission. Whitten, who still resides in the Seattle region but plans to relocate to Austin, Texas, for family reasons, will lead the company as it navigates these hurdles and works towards its goals. Cruise offers flexible work arrangements for its employees.
Cruise had previously operated an engineering office in the Seattle area, which was closed down in December, resulting in the layoff of 67 employees. The company, founded in 2013, has raised a total of $10 billion in funding, with investments from companies like Microsoft, Honda, Walmart and T. Rowe Price. Cruise began testing its self-driving cars in Seattle with human drivers in August, joining other companies such as Zoox and NVIDIA in testing their autonomous vehicles in the city.
Whitten’s extensive experience in the tech industry, particularly in gaming and consumer electronics, positions him well to lead Cruise through its current challenges and towards its future goals. His background at companies like Amazon, Sonos, and Microsoft has equipped him with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation and growth in the autonomous vehicle space. With his leadership, Cruise aims to overcome the setbacks it has faced and continue making strides in developing self-driving technology.
As Cruise looks towards the future, Whitten’s appointment signals a new chapter for the company as it aims to recover from recent setbacks and make progress in the self-driving industry. With Whitten at the helm, Cruise is poised to leverage its world-class technology and team to overcome obstacles, build partnerships, and advance its mission of creating safe and efficient autonomous vehicles. The company’s commitment to innovation and safety remains strong as it navigates the challenges ahead under Whitten’s leadership.
