Velodyne CEO to Step Down

Velodyne Lidar CEO Anand Gopalan will step down from his role as CEO and a member of the board, effective July 30. In response to the situation, the company created an Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) comprising several members of Velodyne’s senior leadership team: Jim Barnhardt, COO; Drew Hamer, CFO; Kathy McBeath, chief people officer, and Sinclair Vass, chief commercial officer. Gopalan’s resignation follows a series of high-profile departures and internal scuffles.

The OCE, a press release stated, will continue to execute the company’s growth strategy developed by Gopalan and the executive team. The board of directors has retained an executive search firm to identify a successor. Gopalan will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity following his departure.