Kodiak Appoints Surajit Datta as Chief Financial Officer

Company Overview - Kodiak Robotics, Inc. is a leading provider of AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, founded in 2018, aiming to tackle complex driving jobs and enhance supply chain efficiency [8][9] - The company has developed the Kodiak Driver, a virtual driver that operates without a human driver, and has achieved significant milestones in deploying driverless trucks in commercial service [9] Leadership Change - Surajit Datta has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Kodiak, effective immediately, succeeding Eric Chow [1][2] - Datta brings over 20 years of experience in strategic finance and leadership from various sectors, including AI, semiconductors, and SaaS, as well as investment banking [3][4][5] Strategic Growth - Kodiak is preparing for a business combination with Ares Acquisition Corporation II, which is expected to lead to its public listing on NASDAQ in the second half of 2025 [3][10] - The leadership transition is seen as crucial for Kodiak as it enters the public markets and aims to scale its business [7] Financial Expertise - Datta's previous roles include Vice President of Finance at SentinelOne and senior positions at Arm, where he was involved in corporate development and finance [5][6] - His extensive background in investment banking includes experience at Evercore and J.P. Morgan, focusing on complex advisory and capital raising transactions [5] Future Outlook - The company is positioned to deliver autonomous technology at scale, with a strong belief in the opportunities ahead as it embarks on its next growth phase [7]