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Cruise LLC, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, announced the appointment of Steve Kenner as its Chief Safety Officer, a move signaling the company’s reinforced commitment to safety in its operations. Kenner, whose career spans nearly four decades, brings a wealth of experience from leading roles across the automotive and autonomous vehicle (AV) sectors, including positions at Kodiak, Aurora, Uber, Ford, and General Motors (GM).
In his new capacity, Kenner will be tasked with overseeing Cruise’s safety governance, systems, and operations, ensuring the highest standards of safety performance. His role involves close collaboration with the Cruise Board of Directors and direct reporting to Craig Glidden, Cruise’s President and Chief Administrative Officer.
Glidden highlighted the importance of Kenner’s role, stating, “improving our overall safety performance and building trust with regulators and communities is crucial as Cruise enters its next chapter.” He lauded Kenner’s unique blend of AV and automotive safety experience as essential for achieving these objectives.
Mo Elshenawy, President and Chief Technology Officer at Cruise, emphasized safety as a core company value, noting that Kenner’s leadership is expected to foster greater accountability and a safety-first mindset among engineers and employees.
Kenner’s career began at GM, and he has since accumulated a vast array of experiences, including serving as the Global Director of Automotive Safety at Ford and VP of Safety at Kodiak. His expertise spans autonomous vehicle safety standards, safety culture, and regulation. Kenner holds an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Kettering University.
Reflecting on his appointment, Kenner expressed his commitment to working with regulators and stakeholders to “make our roadways safer and establish public confidence in the AV industry.” He underscored the shared goal with regulators of enhancing roadway safety and public trust in autonomous vehicles. Kenner’s appointment marks a “full circle moment” in his career, returning to a role closely aligned with GM and its future ambitions.
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