Solid-state battery firm QuantumScape’s vice president of manufacturing engineering has stepped down from her role citing “differing management styles” for the decision— a little more than a year after taking the job.
Celina Mikolajczak and the US firm have entered into a Separation Agreement and Release, pursuant to which the parties agreed to a mutual separation that will transition Mikolajczak from her full-time role to an advisory role on the company’s scientific advisory board effective as of 6 June, 2022.
In the advisory role, Mikolajczak will provide certain advisory services to the company related to her areas of expertise, including next generation battery design, engineering and manufacturing.
The Advisory Agreement has an initial one-year term and is renewable by mutual agreement.
A regulatory filing stated: “This transition is being made due to differing management styles between the parties, and as part of this change, the executives leading the Company’s manufacturing operations and supply chain teams will report directly to the CEO.’
Mikolajczak has informed the companyshe intends to focus her career on the development of a fully US-based battery supply chain.
The Separation Agreement is revocable by Mikolajczak on or before 13 June, 2022.
Mikolajczak has previously worked at Tesla where she helped develop the battery packs for its Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Roadster Refresh; she most recently was vice president of battery technology at Panasonic Energy of North America.
