Autonomous trucking leader appoints first Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer, adding more than 50 years of combined expertise to its executive team
Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics, announced the appointment of its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Legal Officer (CLO), marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth. This comes as Gatik prepares to launch Freight-Only (driverless) operations at scale later this year with multiple customers, ushering in the era of autonomous trucking.
“We are seeing firsthand how commercial demand for autonomous middle-mile delivery continues to rise, underscoring the tremendous value that Patrick and Judi bring to the team as we scale our operations over the coming months,” said Gautam Narang.
Patrick Archambault joins Gatik as CFO, bringing 25 years of experience in the mobility space on both the investment research and operations side, with deep expertise in the autonomous vehicle industry. Judi Otteson has been appointed as CLO, leveraging 25 years of experience guiding companies through high-value IPOs, mergers, and acquisitions.
“We are seeing firsthand how commercial demand for autonomous middle-mile delivery continues to rise, underscoring the tremendous value that Patrick and Judi bring to the team as we scale our operations over the coming months,” said Gautam Narang, Gatik’s CEO and co-founder. “Their proven track record in strategic planning, resource management, and capital markets transactions, particularly within the mobility and technology sectors, will further strengthen Gatik’s leadership at a pivotal moment for both the company and the broader autonomous vehicle industry.”
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Archambault joins Gatik from Quanergy Systems Inc., where he most recently held the role of Chief Financial Officer. Archambault also held the roles of Vice President of Finance, and Director of Financial Planning. Over his seven years at Quanergy, he helped lead the company’s IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2022, securing approximately $175 million in available liquidity to support continued expansion. He also managed the company’s core financial operations, fundraising activities, and investor relations. Prior to Quanergy, Archambault spent 17+ years at Goldman Sachs as a Vice President in the Global Investment Research division where he played a leading role in IPOs for prominent mobility companies including Tesla, Delphi, and TRW. His expertise in the automotive and technology sectors makes him exceptionally well-suited to guide Gatik’s financial operations moving forward.
“Joining Gatik at this pivotal moment is incredibly exciting,” said Patrick Archambault, Gatik’s CFO. “The company is not only the leader in middle-mile autonomous trucking, but is also poised to redefine freight transportation for generations to come. Gatik is one of the most innovative players in this rapidly evolving industry, and I’m eager to contribute to its ambitious goals as it realizes Freight-Only operations at scale for customers across North America.”
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Otteson, who has been with Gatik for over 2 years as General Counsel, joined the company from Matterport Inc. where she managed complex international litigation, navigated corporate governance and regulatory affairs, and built a sustainable legal department that strengthened the company’s long-term growth. As General Counsel, Otteson led the legal portion of Matterport’s de-SPAC merger with Gores Holding VI, securing approximately $605 million in total cash, net of fees, and expenses paid. Before Matterport, Otteson worked at NewPhotonics Corporation, where she spent the last five years of her 11-year tenure serving as Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer. She launched the company’s global compliance program, which included a legal training initiative for over 2,000 employees. Otteson’s demonstrated history of taking multiple companies public, coupled with her deep, hands-on experience building robust legal frameworks, makes her an ideal fit for Gatik’s executive team.
“Gatik is uniquely positioned to bring autonomous middle-mile delivery solutions to America’s supply chain,” said Judi Otteson, Gatik’s CLO. “The company’s existing partnerships with North American giants like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and Kroger sets it apart as a leader in this fast-growing space. I am thrilled to support its rapid growth as Chief Legal Officer, ensuring we continue to raise industry standards in safety, compliance, and accountability, while delivering on the promise of safer, more accessible, and more efficient autonomous delivery solutions for our customers.”
With the addition of Archambault and Otteson, Gatik is strongly positioned to continue leading the autonomous middle-mile logistics sector as it prepares to enter its next phase of rapid expansion. By attracting world-class talent, developing industry-leading autonomous technology, and securing long-term contracts with the continent’s biggest names in retail, grocery, and eCommerce, Gatik is setting the stage to safely and successfully deploy Freight-Only operations at scale in 2025.