Tesla Appoints Notable Short-Selling Critic to Board of Directors
Tesla welcomes Hiromichi Mizuno, the former chief investment officer of Japan's massive pension fund, to its board of directors. Mizuno brings a strong history of opposing short selling and promoting long-term corporate value.
Tesla expands its board of directors by adding Hiromichi Mizuno, the former chief investment officer of Japan's $1.5 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund. Mizuno joins the board and its audit committee, bringing the total number of directors to ten. His arrival adds significant financial clout to the company alongside existing members like Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
Mizuno is widely known for his strong opposition to short selling, a market practice that frequently targets Tesla and frustrates CEO Elon Musk. During his time at the pension fund, Mizono even suspends stock lending to discourage this speculative strategy. He argues that short selling conflicts with his philosophy of promoting long-term value creation and environmental, social, and governance practices.
As compensation for his new role, Mizuno receives stock options to purchase thousands of Tesla shares. His appointment continues a trend of board expansion that started in late 2018 as part of a regulatory settlement with U.S. securities regulators. In addition to his duties at Tesla, Mizuno remains active on several global advisory boards, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council.