JB Straubel

Redwood Materials laid off 135 employees (10% of workforce) in April 2026, its second round in five months after cutting 5% in November 2025. CEO JB Straubel wrote that "parts of the company have expanded faster than needed" with cuts spanning engineering and operations. Laid-off workers received severance, health benefits, and career transition support. COO Chris Lister and VP of Integrated Supply Chain Bradley Mayhew departed amid the restructuring.

JB Straubel was named to TIME100 Climate 2024 for building Redwood Materials into the largest lithium-ion battery recycler in North America. Redwood's proprietary process recovers up to 95% of critical minerals—nickel, cobalt, and lithium—from spent EV batteries, creating a circular battery economy. Straubel told Stanford students in February 2024 he's "taken on an activist mantle" advocating for phasing out fossil fuels. Redwood secured a $2B DOE loan and broke ground on a $3.5B South Carolina facility.

JB Straubel Redwood Materials no major layoffs. Battery recycling growth. Tesla alum.