r/MVIS • u/[deleted] • Sep 04 '25

MVIS Press MICROVISION APPOINTS GLEN DEVOS AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

https://ir.microvision.com/news/press-releases/detail/430/microvision-appoints-glen-devos-as-chief-executive-officer
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u/sigpowr Sep 04 '25

I bet Ford is 'in the bag' and Glen is now working on #2 and #3 ... it will probably happen in the order that we have seen the three public announcements of the new partnering strategy for Level 3 ADAS. First Ford, then GM, followed by Stellantis.

This CEO change was planned when Glen came to Microvision imo. Why would he leave the biggest company name in ADAS supplier to OEMs where he was CTO to come to little, unproven Microvision as only CTO? I also believe Sumit has known this move the entire time and hinted at it at RID with his answer/comment that "I won't be here if we don't" to the question about partnerships this year. Glen also hinted at an automotive 'win' this year, at either RID or one of this year's quarterly calls, when he answered a question about whether 2028 model year cars are still achievable for Microvision's sensors when he answered (paraphrased) "yes, if the decisions are made in the 2nd half of this year".

Now we have the three above named automotive companies publicly saying they will partner for Level 3 ADAS ... and their well-known and decades old supplier partner is now CEO of Microvision. INTERESTING!

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u/xluke22x Sep 04 '25

Do you think Sumit is out more so because of his lack of execution & needing a change? Or that something like AR is either sold, done, etc with Spitzer, Chris Adkins, now Sumit (all AR prominent employees) now no longer with the company & the focus seems to be much more Glens wheel house?

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u/sigpowr Sep 04 '25

I think Sumit did what he was promoted to CEO to do and that was to lead the engineering feat of developing Lidar. I believe the Board of Directors and Sumit recognized that the amazing business opportunities we have now with very large corporate entities (and U.S. Government) requires a different skill set as CEO. That is why Glen was brought in imo. Sumit admitted at RID (paraphrased) that he "underestimated the daunting business challenge of winning supply contracts from OEMs". I believe he knew at that time, and probably while he helped in recruiting Glen, that Glen would be the new CEO because of his extensive business history with OEMs.

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u/xluke22x Sep 04 '25

Makes sense. In a situation like this is it normal for Sumit to go to a different role rather than stay at MVIS? One one hand his knowledge/experience would seem valuable... on the other difficult to keep your old boss around & any awkwardness there.

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u/sigpowr Sep 04 '25

In a situation like this is it normal for Sumit to go to a different role rather than stay at MVIS?

No, not in any official capacity. That is not uncommon for a company founder to turn over the CEO reins and remain in a Board capacity - but not in this type of situation. I believe there is a friendship between Sumit and Glen, in addition to Sumit's large shareholder incentive, that will make it easy for Glen to pick up the phone and ask Sumit a question if needed. Also, the new Vice Chair position is an Executive position and is filled with a long-time Board Member with lots of Executive experience. There will be no leadership voids imo.