Elisa de Martel, the former chief financial officer at Alphabet’s Waymo, has been appointed as the new CFO of Wayve, a prominent self-driving vehicle startup. Her arrival marks a significant leadership transition for Wayve as it prepares to scale its automated driving technology from development phases into commercial applications.
De Martel will assume the role in Sunnyvale, California, succeeding Max Warburton, who served as Wayve’s CFO since 2024. Warburton is not leaving the company entirely; instead, he will step down from his executive position to take on a strategic advisory role supporting the leadership team.
The appointment underscores Wayve’s pivot toward deploying its technology across two major frontiers: robotaxis and consumer passenger vehicles. Founded in 2017, the startup is currently valued at approximately $8.5 billion and has secured $3.2 billion in funding to date. Its proprietary software utilizes end-to-end neural networks trained on data, eliminating the need for high-definition maps, custom hardware, or hand-coded rules—a flexibility that has attracted interest from both investors and automotive manufacturers.
De Martel brings extensive experience in high-growth technology sectors. She previously held the CFO position at industrial 3D printing company Carbon and spent 11 years as manufacturing finance director at Apple. Her tenure at Waymo, from 2022 to January 2026, coincided with the company’s expansion into commercial operations in multiple cities and a pivotal Series C fundraising round that raised $5.6 billion, pushing Waymo’s valuation above $45 billion.
Wayve’s technology, which includes both assisted-driving and fully automated systems, has already drawn partnerships with major automakers such as Nissan and Stellantis. The company recently launched public robotaxi rides in London, operated with a human safety driver on board, and is preparing for similar deployments in Tokyo.
As Wayve seeks to move beyond early-stage deployment and establish itself as a high-volume supplier to the automotive industry, De Martel’s financial background is expected to be critical. Her responsibilities will include overseeing financial strategy, capital allocation, reporting, governance, treasury, and tax functions. Additionally, she will collaborate closely with the executive team on commercial deals, investor relations, and strategic partnerships.
Interesting move. Leaving Alphabet for a smaller startup shows real confidence in Wayve’s mapless approach.
London is a tough market for robotaxis. Hope the tech is ready for prime time without safety drivers.
Wait, she only lasted four years at Waymo? That seems short for someone who helped raise $5.6 billion there.
Apple experience plus Waymo scaling is a powerful combo. Wayve better have a solid plan for that capital.