Wayve Hires Former Waymo CFO Elisa de Martel as Self-Driving Startup Enters Expansion Phase

Wayve has appointed former Waymo chief financial officer Elisa de Martel as its new CFO as the self-driving startup prepares to expand its autonomous driving technology into wider commercial use.

De Martel previously served as CFO at Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle company, from 2022 to January 2026. During that period, Waymo expanded commercial operations in several cities and raised $5.6 billion in a Series C funding round led by Alphabet, bringing its valuation above $45 billion.

Wayve prepares for its next growth stage

Wayve said outgoing CFO Max Warburton, who joined the company’s finance leadership role in 2024, will transition into a strategic advisory position supporting the leadership team.

In her new role, de Martel will oversee financial strategy, planning, capital allocation, reporting, governance, treasury, and tax. She will also support commercial agreements, investor discussions, and strategic partnerships.

The appointment comes as Wayve moves from development and testing toward deploying its automated driving systems for robotaxis and passenger vehicles.

AI-based approach to autonomous driving

Founded in 2017, Wayve has developed self-driving software based on an end-to-end neural network approach. Unlike systems that depend on high-definition maps, custom hardware, or manually written driving rules, Wayve’s technology uses data to train vehicles on how to drive.

The company offers an “eyes on” assisted-driving system and an “eyes off” automated-driving system designed for vehicles that can handle driving tasks in certain environments without human control.

Wayve’s approach has attracted automotive partners and investors, including companies interested in using its technology for future robotaxi services. The