Zipline Taps Former Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja to Lead Global Expansion
Drone delivery startup Zipline appoints Deepak Ahuja, a former Tesla and Verily CFO, as its first chief business and financial officer. Ahuja oversees global financial operations and drives expansion in the US and beyond.
Zipline hires Deepak Ahuja, a former Tesla and Verily chief financial officer, as its first chief business and financial officer. Ahuja starts in this new role on September 30 and brings decades of financial experience to the drone delivery startup. His appointment comes as Zipline accelerates its global expansion efforts.
In his new position, Ahuja oversees Zipline’s global financial operations, including finance, accounting, investor relations, and global sales. He focuses on building the company's business in the United States and other international regions, while Daniel Marfo continues to manage existing operations in Africa. Zipline currently operates in multiple African countries, Japan, and several US states.
Ahuja joins Zipline at a time of significant growth for the company, which recently raised $250 million in venture capital and secured FAA Part 135 approval for long-range drone delivery in the US. The company expands to Utah later this year and plans to begin operations in Washington in 2024. Zipline, founded in 2014, designs its own autonomous electric drones, logistics software, and launch systems to deliver medical supplies and other goods.