Former Waymo CFO Elisa de Martel Joins Self-Driving Startup Wayve in Same Role
De Martel arrives after helping Waymo launch commercial operations and raise a $5.6 billion Series C that lifted its valuation above $45 billion. She replaces Max Warburton at Wayve, which has raised $3.2 billion and is valued at about $8.5 billion.
Elisa de Martel, the former chief financial officer of Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle company Waymo, has been hired as CFO of self-driving startup Wayve, the company announced in September 2026. She replaces Max Warburton, who has held the CFO position since 2024 and is moving into a strategic advisory role.
De Martel served as Waymo’s CFO from 2022 until January 2026, a period during which the company began commercial operations in several cities and raised a $5.6 billion Series C round led by Alphabet, pushing Waymo’s valuation above $45 billion. Before Waymo, she spent 11 years as manufacturing finance director at Apple and served as CFO at industrial 3D printing company Carbon. She will be based in Sunnyvale, California.
At Wayve, de Martel will oversee financial strategy and planning, capital allocation, reporting, governance, treasury, and tax. She will also work with the executive team on commercial, investor, and strategic partnership matters.
Wayve, founded in 2017 and currently valued at approximately $8.5 billion, has raised $3.2 billion to date. The company develops automated driving software using an end-to-end neural network that relies solely on data — without high-definition maps, custom hardware, or hand-coded rules. That technology underpins two products: an “eyes on” assisted-driving system and an “eyes off” fully automated system applicable to both robotaxis and consumer vehicles.
The startup has secured partnerships with automakers including Nissan and Stellantis, and Uber has expressed interest in using its technology for robotaxi deployment. Wayve recently launched public rides in London with a human safety operator on board, with Tokyo expected to follow.
According to insiders, de Martel’s background in deep tech was a key factor in her selection by Wayve leadership, including founder and CEO Alex Kendall. Her appointment comes as Wayve works to scale from early deployment into high-volume automotive supply.