Jobs/Appointments
Velodyne Lidar Promotes Rick Tewell to Chief Operating Officer
By Dipo Olowookere
Silicon Valley-based LiDAR technology company, Velodyne Lidar, has announced the promotion of Mr Rick Tewell to Chief Operating Officer.
Mr Tewell assumes leadership of the company’s vast manufacturing efforts at its Megafactory in San Jose, California.
He joined the company in September 2017 as Senior Vice President of Automated Manufacturing and was promoted to Chief Advanced Manufacturing Officer prior to the promotion to COO.
He brings a wealth of expertise to the day-to-day production of Velodyne’s industry-leading lidar sensor product line.
According to Marta Hall, Velodyne’s President and Chief Business Development Officer, Velodyne “recruited Rick Tewell to manage Robotics and Advanced Technology, and within a year it was clear he could lead Operations as COO.
“Velodyne Lidar is at the extreme edge of high tech, and Rick meets the challenge with da Vinci-like multiple talents. In the last three months Rick upgraded the entire Velodyne Megafactory with robotics and newly designed innovative processes for production. As COO he brings a futuristic vision and fresh energy to the operations of the company.”
“My main responsibility,” said Mr Tewell, “is to take a design that came from the mind of a genius, David Hall [Velodyne’s Founder and CEO], and make it into a product worthy of the Velodyne name. I work with David and Anand [Gopalan, Velodyne’s Chief Technology Officer] to translate these wonderful designs that have the ability to change the world into something that is manufacturable and then ramp production to meet the demand. To take an invention from Dave Hall and turn it into a manufacturable product is a huge responsibility and one that I take very seriously. It’s an incredible opportunity. I get out of bed excited to go to work, and I go to bed thinking about it.”
According to Mr Tewell, the job of Chief Operating Officer at Velodyne is unlike any other. Between designing and manufacturing the highest quality sensors on the market comes the equally challenging task of inventing and building the machines that then build the sensors.
“For our sensors to be able to see so far and produce incredibly accurate data for autonomous vehicles to use, we have to employ incredibly precise processes, which include utilizing robotics and automation. So we need to also invent the machines that will build our sensors.” Given the uniqueness of Velodyne’s products, Mr Tewell pointed out that he must address the complex processes of “taking something that’s never been invented or built before and building tens of thousands — hundreds of thousands — millions of them. It is a whole series of inventions to produce the sensor invention. So, it is not just the genius of the lidar itself; it’s the genius of saying, ‘This is what you are going to need to invent in order to manufacture the sensor.’”
Before coming to Velodyne, Mr Tewell established a successful career in the automotive semiconductor industry, including stops at Fujitsu and NVIDIA.
Rick remembers, “The idea that cars eventually would be robots emerged while Dave Hall was participating in the DARPA Grand Challenge. At NVIDIA we were creating the brains that would be used in self-driving cars.”
Mr Tewell’s interest and experience in developing key technologies for autonomous mobility grew over the years. Finally, Tewell decided to join Velodyne with the clear realization that he would be “aligning with a company that will be one of, if not the, principal company in the self-driving industry.”
Mr Tewell recognizes the essential role Velodyne’s products have in enabling safe mobility at scale. “We are working hard to meet the next wave of demand for sensors to put on autonomous vehicles. Scaling up will drive the cost down to where the price is attractive to all customers. But we will never compromise on quality. It is critical from an operations standpoint that our product will ultimately impact someone’s life. This realization needs to permeate every aspect of what we do. This is not a piece of technology that is going to stay in a box. When you put a sensor on a car the person in that car is trusting that technology to keep them safe.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest digital asset exchange by trading volume and users, Binance, has appointed its co-founder, Ms Yi He, as its co-CEO.
“Yi has been an integral part of the executive leadership team since the launch of Binance. Her innovative and user-focused approach has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture, and bottom-up business strategy,” said Binance CEO, Mr Richard Teng. “This appointment is a natural progression and she will continue to guide the organization from strength to strength.”
“We remain dedicated to being the most trusted and regulated exchange in the world, always putting our users first. Yi plays a critical role in growing our community and driving product innovation as we work to reach one billion users. Together, we are focused on building the Web3 infrastructure and promoting financial freedom, empowering people to participate in a more open and fair financial system,” added Mr Teng.
“I am honored to build alongside Richard, who brings decades of experience in regulated financial markets and was among the first to regulate crypto in its early days,” said Ms He. “Together, we bring diverse perspectives and are confident in leading the future of the industry during this pivotal time, as we responsibly expand our global presence and drive sustainable innovation with our users always at the center.”
Binance remains one of the world’s largest players in crypto trading, and leadership changes within the company continue to draw attention due to its scale and influence.
The appointment of a co-CEO adds structure during a period when global exchanges emphasize compliance, operational clarity and more formal management frameworks.
The company did not announce changes to its product lineup or platform priorities alongside the leadership update, and no financial terms were disclosed. The addition of a co-CEO role reflects an internal effort to distribute responsibilities as the firm works with regulators and seeks stability in a competitive and closely watched industry.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) has chosen Nigeria as its official headquarters and also elected the chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, as its chairman.
Recall that in September, 16 countries, led by Nigeria, gathered in Accra, Ghana, to witness the signing of the charter establishing the forum, which seek to harmonise oil regulation in Africa.
Others include Ghana, Somalia, Gambia, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, and Togo among others.
The decisions were announced at the inaugural executive committee meeting of the forum which took place virtually on December 2, 2025. The meeting which was attended by the 16 African countries, was convened to pick its leadership, headquarters and logo.
Prior to his endorsement as the substantive pioneering chairman, Mr Komolafe acted in interim capacity.
Also, Mrs Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan also emerged as the secretary of AFRIPERF.
According to a statement on Wednesday, NUPRC notes that the development affirms Nigeria’s central role in the African petroleum regulatory space and as Africa’s largest producer of crude oil.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Komolafe thanked his African counterparts for the trust and honour, promising to ensure that no member country is left behind.
AFRIPERF aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators.
Its mission includes creating standards, enhancing transparency and addressing cross-border challenges such as gas trade, emissions, and digitalisation while making the African continent energy sector attractive for crucial investments.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has been nominated by President Bola Tinubu as the new Minister of Defence, replacing Mr Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.
The erstwhile minister resigned from his position with immediate effect for health reasons, the president’s spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, had said on Monday night.
The 63-year-old’s departure coincides with a period of heightened security challenges across Nigeria, with the government under pressure to deal with a spate of mass kidnappings.
In a letter to Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu conveyed Mr Musa’s nomination as the successor to Mr Abubakar, according to statement on Tuesday by Mr Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The 58-year-old retired military chief is described as a distinguished soldier who served as the CDS from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.
Born in Sokoto in 1967, Mr Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria. He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has since had a distinguished career. His appointments included General Staff Officer 1, Training/Operations at HQ 81 Division; Commanding Officer, 73 Battalion; Assistant Director, Operational Requirements, Department of Army Policy and Plans; and Infantry Representative/Member, Training Team, HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
In 2019, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Training/Operations, Headquarters Infantry Centre and Corps; Commander, Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole; and Commander, Sector 3 Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region.
In 2021, Mr Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed CDS by President Tinubu in 2023.
In the letter to the Senate, Mr Tinubu expressed confidence in Mr Musa’s ability to lead the Ministry of Defence and further strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
If confirmed by the upper legislative chamber, he will take up the ministry at a crucial time when security challenges including terror and kidnappings are plaguing the country.
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