Latest news with #departure
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Another Hegseth aide exits as Pentagon churn continues
Another senior aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is leaving the Pentagon, officials said Saturday, marking at least the sixth departure of a top adviser in Hegseth's first six months in office. Justin Fulcher, who was named a senior adviser to the defense secretary in late April, said in a text message to The Washington Post that his departure is 'perfectly amicable' and that he planned all along to complete just six months of government service. He said he is grateful to Hegseth, President Donald Trump 'and to the extraordinary civilians and service members who turn vision into action every day.' 'Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Department of Defense has been incredibly inspiring,' Fulcher said. Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, acknowledged Fulcher's departure in a text message, after CBS News first reported that Fulcher had been fired. Parnell said it was 'not fair' to characterize the exit as a firing and called Fulcher a 'great guy.' The Pentagon also issued a short statement from Parnell that said the Defense Department is grateful to Fulcher 'for his work on behalf of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. We wish him well in his future endeavors.' Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, came to the Cabinet job with little prior managerial experience and has struggled to achieve cohesion among his inner circle of aides. The staff churn, along with Hegseth's other early missteps, has drawn sharp scrutiny from Congress and, at times, the White House. The latest shake-up follows a report by The Post published Tuesday that detailed an unusual situation ahead of his appointment in April in which Fulcher — then a member of billionaire Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service — stormed out of a meeting with the Pentagon's DOGE team lead, Yinon Weiss, and sought help from Hegseth's front office. As The Post reported, Fulcher told Hegseth and other senior officials in the secretary's office that he thought the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, an internal police and security organization, was looking for him. That upset Hegseth, who then summoned Weiss to his office and confronted him, raising his voice at times, people familiar with the altercation said. Weiss, a tech entrepreneur who had just taken over as the Pentagon's DOGE team lead, denied having called law enforcement, telling Hegseth that instead he had reported Fulcher to a government official with the Defense Department transition office that assists newly arriving political appointees, a person familiar with the encounter said. Hegseth brought Fulcher onto his team days later, after he fired three other senior advisers and accused them of leaking information to the news media. They have emphatically denied the accusation, and the Pentagon has disclosed no evidence backing the allegations. Fulcher was embroiled in additional controversy last month after the Guardian reported that he told Hegseth's personal attorney, Tim Parlatore, and Hegseth's chief of staff at the time, Joe Kasper, that he knew of surveillance measures that could be used to find leakers in the Pentagon. Fulcher joined Parlatore in the search for suspected leakers, but officials at the White House and in the Pentagon later determined that Fulcher had exaggerated his usefulness and the purported evidence he had alluded to did not exist, people familiar with the matter said. In light of that, some of Hegseth's other advisers began to cast doubt on Fulcher's standing in the administration. Within the Pentagon, there was speculation for days that Fulcher's departure was imminent, but on July 11 administration officials said in a statement to The Post that he was still a senior adviser to the secretary and gave no indication that was changing. Fulcher, too, said then that he was still on the team without disclosing that he would be leaving soon. Fulcher's workspace had recently been relocated outside of Hegseth's main office to a desk down the hall, but he previously told The Post the move was temporary and occurring because of maintenance work. Others familiar with the situation affirmed that the move appeared to be temporary, but some said that it had raised new questions as Hegseth has worked to suppress any perception of persistent dysfunction. Other members of Hegseth's team who have departed include Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick, the three fired in April; Kasper, who voluntarily left his role for the private sector that month, and John Ullyot, who served for a few months as the Pentagon's top spokesman.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Real Madrid veteran pens emotional farewell message to Lucas Vazquez – ‘More than just a teammate'
In a long message last night, Lucas Vazquez confirmed his departure from Real Madrid which, while not official to that point, was always an open secret. The 34-year-old officially bid goodbye to the club earlier today in a farewell ceremony at the Sports City, in the presence of his family, teammates, and club officials. The club captain and academy graduate played his final game for the club against PSG where he came off the bench for the final eight minutes. The result did not go Los Blancos' way but it was an emotional night for the right-back regardless. Over the years, Vazquez served as an able backup right-back and did well to help the team whenever called upon. As a graduate of La Fabrica, he remains one of the few players in recent years to make it into the first-team and sustain until the fag end of his career. Carvajal's parting message Taking to his Instagram earlier today, Real Madrid veteran and Vazquez's direct competitor Dani Carvajal bid an emotional farewell to the departing captain with a message that truly captured the special bond the duo shared with each other. 'He's more than just a teammate. The last teammate of those three Champions in a row, of a stage that marked our lives and the history of Real Madrid, is gone,' started Carvajal. 'Over all these years we have shared much more than trainings and games. We've had magical nights, difficult moments, laughter, trips, locker room chats… things that only those of us inside truly understand.' Praising the Spaniard, Carvajal added: 'The way you compete, your professionalism, the way you are always, through good and bad, says a lot about you. 'Because a team is made when they all go together, and you've always wanted to be added. Always. And that, inside the locker room, is valued more than is sometimes said.' Concluding, the Real Madrid captain stated: 'It's been many years together, and it's been an honor to share so much with you, Lucas. As a teammate and as a friend. 'I wish you all the luck in the world in whatever comes next. And most of all, thank you Lucas Vazquez.' Both Carvajal and Vazquez played at right-back for Real Madrid but the former was always seen to be the technically superior of the two Spaniards. Vazquez, thus, spent most of his time at Real Madrid as a direct backup to Carvajal. Last season, however, Carvajal suffered a gruesome knee injury that required surgery and was thus ruled out for the entire season. He only made his return in the FIFA Club World Cup and it was Vazquez who covered the department through last season. Now, however, the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the return of Carvajal from injury left Vazquez with little to no room to earn minutes and the player thus saw it right to part ways with the club of his dreams immediately.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Top official adds to Tesla exodus amid sales slump
Troy Jones, Tesla 's Vice President of sales, service, and delivery for North America, has departed the company after 15 years. His departure follows a series of high-profile executive exits from Tesla, including Milan Kovac, Jenna Ferrura, and Omead Afshar, amidst recent company turmoil. These leadership changes occur as Tesla faces a significant sales slump and challenges related to CEO Elon Musk 's political involvement. Tesla's global vehicle sales dropped by 13.5 per cent in the second fiscal quarter of 2025, with deliveries falling short of analyst expectations. The company's stock price has also seen a considerable decline over the past six months, reflecting broader difficulties.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Top executives depart Tesla after months of turmoil and sales slump
Top executives have recently departed Tesla after months of turmoil caused by CEO Elon Musk 's stint in politics and a sales slump at the electric car company. Troy Jones, vice president of sales, service and delivery in Tesla's North American market, left the firm after 15 years, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Several other Tesla higher-ups have left the company in the past year. Milan Kovac, a vice president of engineering who oversaw Tesla's development of its humanoid robot Optimus, announced his departure in June. 'This week, I've had to make the most difficult decision of my life and will be moving out of my position. I've been far away from home for too long, and will need to spend more time with family abroad,' Kovac, who had worked at the company for more than nine years, wrote on X at the time. He added: 'I want to make it clear that this is the only reason, and has absolutely nothing to do with anything else. My support for @elonmusk and the team is ironclad - Tesla team forever.' Jenna Ferrura, Tesla's director of human resources for North America, has also left. Bloomberg reported in June, citing people familiar with the matter, Ferrura no longer appeared in the company directory. Omead Afshar, who oversaw sales and manufacturing operations in North America and Europe, has departed the company as well. Forbes reported in June, citing people familiar with the matter, Afshar was fired by Musk after being promoted to his position in October. Bloomberg called Afshar one of Musk's 'closest confidants,' working at the company since 2017. The E-suite shakeups come during a rough few months for Tesla. Musk made waves among a key demographic of EV buyers when he led President Donald Trump 's Department of Government Efficiency. Musk left the White House in late May, and his relationship with Trump quickly soured. There have been protests at Tesla dealerships and even some cases of attacks on property at car showrooms and lots, charging stations and involving privately owned Tesla cars. Against this backdrop, Tesla's global vehicle sales dropped 13.5 percent in the second fiscal quarter of 2025, the Journal reported earlier this month. The company reported worse-than-expected Tesla deliveries. There were 384,122 Tesla vehicles delivered in the second quarter, off the 387,000 estimate from analysts, according to FactSet. Tesla's stock has also significantly decreased over the past six months. The stock was at around $413 per share on January 16, compared to about $308 per share on Tuesday, according to MarketWatch. The company has been trying to entice customers with an updated Model Y midsize SUV and a cheaper version of its Cybertruck. June was a particularly big month for Tesla as the company unveiled new versions of its Model S and Model X luxury cars and launched a pilot of its robotaxi service in Austin.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Don Cherry ‘very disappointed' by Ron MacLean's comments about health, Hockey Night in Canada exit
Don Cherry said his departure from Hockey Night in Canada in 2019 was not an orchestrated 'exit strategy' related to health concerns, as was recently suggested by Ron MacLean, his ex-longtime on-air partner. The former co-host of Coach's Corner isn't ready to call MacLean's candid comments to the Kingston Whig Standard a 'betrayal,' but admitted to feeling aggrieved by the narrative created after so many years have passed. 'I'm very disappointed in Ron that he would bring this up,' Cherry, 91, told the Toronto Sun's Joe Warmington in a conversation about MacLean's assertions. 'I'm very disappointed that he would reach back five years and do this. 'He should let it go,' he added. Cherry said he was 'really surprised' when his wife Luba showed him the story, noting to Warmington that as far as she is concerned, MacLean is not welcome at their home or to contact them. Luba told the writer she would speak with her husband's former peer directly. Broached with the subject of Cherry and his son Tim possibly ending their podcast Grapevine by Whig Standard sports writer Gare Joyce recently, MacLean was reminded of Cherry's departure from HNIC and tied it to the pneumonia he was suffering from at the end of a long Stanley Cup Final between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins that June. MacLean alleged that Cherry was struggling to breathe on their flight to Boston for a decisive Game 7, and he was taken to a sauna upon landing in an attempt to 'clear out his lungs.' A then 85-year-old Cherry would go on air that night, but his account of what occurred after the game differs from MacLean's. 'Don and I didn't have our post-show ritual beers (because) he was so sick,' MacLean told the Whig Standard. 'I just had a couple of beers by myself and then I got a call from (National Hockey League Commissioner) Gary Bettman — you know, he and I are like, well, pick your poison — and he asks, 'How's Don?' I tell him, 'He's good. Why do you ask?' (Bettman) says, 'Well, he's in hospital.' That was a shocker.' For his part, Cherry insisted to Warmington that while he was 'pretty tired,' there was no hospital visit in Boston. 'I went to my room,' he said, admitting he later visited a hospital upon returning to Canada, where he spent one night being assessed and treated for pneumonia. Regardless, MacLean went on to suggest the 'pneumonia scare' led Cherry to begin 'plotting a way out' that ultimately arrived on a November broadcast ahead of Remembrance Day when he spoke about immigrants to Canada not wearing poppies to honour Canada's fallen soldiers. 'You people come here, whatever it is, you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey. At least you could pay a couple of bucks for a poppy,' Cherry said at the time. Rogers Sportsnet released him two days later following public backlash, which MacLean said 'was the right outcome.' 'Don needed out, and the time was right. (Remembrance Day) was his last swing, taking a stance that's unpopular, but that feels good in his world. For Don, it's all a fight. It's all a battle. So he was happy and I'm happy for him.' Cherry also flatly rejected that assertion, saying 'he wasn't looking for a way out.' 'He can say what he wants, but it never happened.' Cherry said he's not been in contact with MacLean about the statements, nor does he plan to reach out. As for the future of the Grapevine podcast, Cherry and his son told Warmington that the show will continue. Rex Murphy: Don Cherry's cruel exclusion from the Order of Canada 'I've been through some ordeals': Ron MacLean is the last Canadian icon Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
