Cruise Board Appoints Marc Whitten as CEO

Also welcomes Nick Mulholland as Chief Communications & Marketing Officer

Cruise today announced the appointment of Marc Whitten as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective July 16. Marc is a proven leader with decades of experience on the frontlines of technology transformations. His experience leading teams at scale and his deep expertise across software, hardware, platform and services will be crucial to fulfilling Cruise’s vision of offering technology and services that provide tangible benefits to society.

Marc was a founding engineer at Xbox and Xbox Live where he scaled three generations of technology to serve millions of gamers. At Amazon, he was general manager and vice president across a range of entertainment devices and services, including Fire TV, Kindle, and Amazon apps and entertainment services. He served as Chief Product Officer of Sonos and most recently as Chief Product and Technology Officer, Create at Unity, where he helped expand the use of AI and the company’s real-time 3D technology, which powers most real-time games, apps and experiences across multiple platforms. 

Mo Elshenawy will continue to serve as President and Chief Technology Officer, while Craig Glidden will focus his time as President and Chief Administrative Officer with changes to his leadership role at GM. Both will report to Marc, as will Steve Kenner, Cruise’s Chief Safety Officer. 

"In a few years, transportation will be fundamentally safer and more accessible than it is today, creating much more value for individuals and communities around the world. It is an opportunity of a lifetime to be part of this transformation," said Marc Whitten on his decision to join Cruise. “The team at Cruise has built world-class technology, and I look forward to working with them to help bring this critical mission to life.” 

In addition to Marc’s appointment, Cruise also welcomes Nick Mulholland as its Chief Communications & Marketing Officer. He brings deep auto, tech and electric vehicle experience to his role at Cruise. Most recently, he led Rivian’s global communications team including brand marketing, corporate and sustainability communications.

“My core belief is that this technology and Cruise's dedication to its mission will change the world. Achieving such a bold vision will require a deep and meaningful collaboration with the communities we serve," said Nick. "It is an incredible opportunity to play a role in building these vital connections." 

About Cruise

In service of its vision for safer roadways, Cruise’s aspiration is to build the world’s most advanced self-driving vehicles to safely connect people with the places, things, and experiences they care about.

As of June 2024, Cruise has resumed supervised autonomous driving in Phoenix, AZ, Houston and Dallas, TX, in addition to its ongoing testing in Dubai. Majority owned by General Motors since 2016, Cruise combines a culture of innovative technology and safety with a history of manufacturing and automotive excellence. Cruise has received funding from other leading companies and investors—including Honda, Microsoft, T. Rowe Price, and Walmart.