Kodiak Robotics, Inc. Appoints Surajit Datta as CFO – Reported by New India Abroad

 

Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a California-based leader in autonomous trucking technology, announced on August 25 that Surajit Datta has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Datta, an Indian-origin finance executive with more than 20 years of experience, will guide the company’s financial operations as it prepares for a public listing.

He succeeds Eric Chow, who has served as CFO since 2022. Chow will remain with Kodiak until the end of 2025 to ensure a smooth transition.

In his new role, Datta will oversee core financial functions, including accounting, tax and treasury, investor relations, internal audit, and financial planning. His appointment comes at a crucial time, as Kodiak advances its planned business combination with Ares Acquisition Corporation II (NYSE: AACT), paving the way for a NASDAQ listing in the second half of 2025.

Datta brings deep experience in technology and finance. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Finance at SentinelOne, an AI-powered cybersecurity company. Prior to that, he worked at Arm, a global semiconductor and AI technology firm, where he held roles including Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade in investment banking with Evercore and J.P. Morgan.

Academically, Datta is distinguished by degrees from prestigious institutions: an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a postgraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and a B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Commenting on the appointment, Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak, said:
“Surajit brings significant strategic and operational finance expertise, which will be invaluable as Kodiak enters the public markets and executes its growth strategy.”

Datta expressed enthusiasm about joining, noting: “Kodiak is uniquely positioned to deliver autonomous technology at scale, and I am excited about the tremendous opportunities ahead.”