Luminar, a global leader in automotive technology, has recently announced a series of key executive appointments that aim to strengthen the company’s leadership team as it looks ahead to 2025. The new additions include Alex Fishkin as Chief Legal Officer, Michael Southard as Vice President of Engineering, and Marc Losiewicz, who has been appointed as Chief Business Officer and General Manager. These leadership updates are part of Luminar’s strategic efforts to drive growth and increase efficiency as it enters a critical phase of its development.
We’re setting Luminar up for success in 2025 with leadership enhancements to help us achieve our two main goals for next year: strong growth and increased efficiency, said Austin Russell, Founder and CEO of Luminar. Luminar’s leading position in enabling global automakers to achieve drastically improved assisted and autonomous capabilities in production vehicles continues to attract top talent in the industry.
Michael Southard: Leading LiDAR Engineering for Greater Efficiency
Michael Southard’s appointment as Vice President of Engineering marks an important step for Luminar as the company ramps up its engineering efforts. Southard will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day LiDAR engineering activities, focusing on improving efficiency and leveraging research and development resources as Luminar finalizes its work on the Iris family of products. Southard’s leadership will be crucial as Luminar transitions its focus to the Halo product and future innovations.
Southard brings a wealth of experience to Luminar, having previously led the hardware team at Block (formerly Square) and played a significant role in VR hardware development at Meta. Additionally, Southard has an extensive background in product development across a variety of technologies, having held positions at Amazon, Apple, and Google. His experience in scaling technology and leading engineering teams at major tech companies positions him to make a significant impact as Luminar accelerates its product roadmap and addresses the growing demand from customers for its cutting-edge technologies.
Alex Fishkin: Returning to Lead Legal Affairs
Alex Fishkin is returning to Luminar as Chief Legal Officer after serving as the company’s Chief Legal Officer for three years. Fishkin is a seasoned business and legal executive with a strong background in technology companies, making him well-suited to guide Luminar through the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving automotive technology sector. Prior to his tenure at Luminar, Fishkin served in legal leadership roles at some of the world’s most prominent tech companies, including Google, where he was involved in shaping the company’s legal strategy during its early years.
Fishkin’s experience spans advising both public and private technology firms on a wide range of legal matters, from intellectual property to corporate governance. As a former engineer and professor of law at Northwestern University, Fishkin brings a unique perspective that will help Luminar navigate the legal complexities of the autonomous vehicle industry. His return is expected to strengthen the company’s legal team and support its growth trajectory as Luminar scales its operations globally.
Marc Losiewicz: Elevating Business Leadership
Marc Losiewicz has been appointed Chief Business Officer and General Manager of Luminar after serving the company in various senior roles over the past four years. Most recently, Losiewicz was Chief of Staff and Vice President of Business Development. In his new role, he will leverage his deep understanding of the automotive and technology industries to drive Luminar’s business strategy and help the company achieve its mission of transforming the autonomous driving landscape.
Before joining Luminar, Losiewicz held a senior position at ZF, one of the largest automotive Tier 1 manufacturers, where he managed a billion-dollar P&L for its assisted driving platform. His career also includes engineering roles, providing him with a broad perspective on both the technical and business aspects of the automotive industry. Losiewicz’s experience in business development and his deep knowledge of the automotive sector will be crucial in helping Luminar expand its reach and build strategic partnerships in the coming years.
Luminar’s Strategic Vision
These leadership changes come at a pivotal time for Luminar, which is positioning itself as a leader in the development of LiDAR and autonomous driving technologies. The company’s Iris family of products, which is nearing the end of its development phase, promises to further enhance its capabilities in assisting autonomous driving, while the upcoming Halo product is poised to push the boundaries of what is possible in vehicle automation.
The new executives bring complementary skills and expertise that will enable Luminar to continue building momentum as it works to meet the growing demands of automakers and accelerate the commercialization of its technology. By bolstering its leadership team with top talent from across the technology and automotive industries, Luminar is strengthening its position as a pioneer in the autonomous vehicle space, setting the stage for continued success in 2025 and beyond.
With a clear focus on innovation and operational efficiency, Luminar is well-positioned to meet the challenges of the fast-evolving automotive industry while continuing to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology.
