Tesla Head of Operations Omead Afshar, Elon Musk Confidant, Fired Amid Sales Slump; HR Executive Jenna Ferrua Also Departs

Omead Afshar, a senior executive at Tesla Inc. and a close confidant of CEO Elon Musk, has departed the company amid a challenging period marked by declining sales in North America and Europe. Afshar, who served as Tesla's head of operations overseeing sales and manufacturing across these regions, was reportedly fired by Musk. His exit follows a year of flagging sales performance, including a notable slump in the European market where Tesla's sales dropped 28% in May while overall electric vehicle sales increased by 15%.

Afshar had been promoted less than a year ago to lead operations in North America and Europe and was considered a key figure in Musk's inner circle, often described as the CEO's 'fixer.' In addition to Afshar's departure, Jenna Ferrua, Tesla's HR executive and lead in Austin, has also left the company. These high-level exits come during a volatile period for Tesla, which is also navigating the rollout of its Robotaxi pilot and broader market challenges. Tesla has not officially confirmed the departures. The moves reflect internal restructuring as the company grapples with slowing global demand and operational pressures.