Gatik Bolsters Executive Leadership to Accelerate Autonomous Freight Rollout Amid Surging Commercial Demand
Gatik, a pioneering force in autonomous middle-mile logistics, has announced a major step forward in its corporate growth strategy with the appointment of two senior executives: its first Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Patrick Archambault, and Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Judi Otteson. These appointments mark a significant inflection point for the company as it advances toward launching Freight-Only—driverless—operations at scale with multiple customers across North America later this year.
The addition of seasoned financial and legal leadership signals Gatik’s readiness to transition from a technology disruptor to a commercially scaled enterprise. With commercial demand for autonomous logistics continuing to grow at a rapid pace, Gatik is reinforcing its executive bench to meet market needs and ensure sustainable long-term growth.
Reinforcing Gatik’s Position at a Critical Juncture
“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, CEO and co-founder of Gatik. “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.”
Gatik is already recognized as a category leader in autonomous middle-mile transportation—a space that bridges the gap between distribution centers and retail or micro-fulfillment locations. The company’s Freight-Only model eliminates the driver entirely from the cab, offering customers increased reliability, reduced operating costs, and round-the-clock delivery capability.
To capitalize on these advantages, Gatik is scaling aggressively in preparation for its commercial driverless debut. Bringing in top-tier talent like Archambault and Otteson is essential for managing that scale effectively and responsibly.
Patrick Archambault: Leading Financial Strategy Into the Next Era
Patrick Archambault brings a wealth of financial acumen and strategic leadership to Gatik’s executive team, underpinned by 25 years of experience spanning investment research, corporate finance, and automotive technology. He most recently served as Chief Financial Officer at Quanergy Systems Inc., a leader in LiDAR sensing solutions, where he played a critical role in the company’s IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2022.
During his seven-year tenure at Quanergy, Archambault held multiple key leadership positions, including Vice President of Finance and Director of Financial Planning. He was instrumental in securing approximately $175 million in available liquidity post-IPO, which supported Quanergy’s business expansion efforts. His responsibilities encompassed not only core financial operations, but also strategic fundraising initiatives and investor relations.
Earlier in his career, Archambault spent over 17 years at Goldman Sachs as a Vice President in the Global Investment Research division. While at Goldman, he was a lead equity analyst on a number of high-profile initial public offerings (IPOs) for industry giants in the mobility space, including Tesla, Delphi Technologies, and TRW Automotive. His industry knowledge and network in automotive and mobility finance uniquely position him to help steer Gatik through its next phase of growth, which could include public market entry or significant strategic financing rounds.
“Joining Gatik at this pivotal moment is incredibly exciting,” said Archambault. “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.”
Judi Otteson: A Strategic Legal Leader for Scaled Growth
Judi Otteson assumes the role of Chief Legal Officer after more than two years serving as Gatik’s General Counsel. In that time, she has played a key role in guiding the company through complex legal frameworks, regulatory compliance, and commercial contracts, while laying the foundation for long-term legal sustainability.
Prior to joining Gatik, Otteson was General Counsel at Matterport Inc., a 3D spatial data company. There, she was instrumental in leading the legal strategy for Matterport’s de-SPAC merger with Gores Holdings VI, a transaction that resulted in approximately $605 million in net proceeds, enabling Matterport to expand its technology footprint globally. She also oversaw all legal and regulatory matters tied to the company’s growth, including international litigation and corporate governance.
Earlier in her career, Otteson spent over a decade at NewPhotonics Corporation, where she ultimately served as Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer. Among her many accomplishments was the development of a comprehensive global compliance program that included a company-wide legal training initiative affecting more than 2,000 employees.
Her extensive experience with IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, corporate compliance, and high-stakes litigation makes her a critical asset as Gatik positions itself for national deployment of autonomous freight technology and potentially prepares for public capital market engagement.
“Gatik is uniquely positioned to bring autonomous middle-mile delivery solutions to America’s supply chain,” said Otteson. “The company’s existing partnerships with North American giants like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and Kroger set 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.”
A Vision for Scaled, Driverless Operations
The expansion of Gatik’s executive team comes as the company prepares for one of its most transformative milestones: the scaled rollout of Freight-Only, fully driverless operations. These operations are expected to commence in 2025 across multiple customer locations and states, building on the company’s existing commercial deployments.
Gatik has already made history in the field. In 2021, it became the first company to operate fully driverless commercial deliveries on the middle mile, doing so in partnership with Walmart in Arkansas. Since then, Gatik has steadily expanded its commercial footprint, establishing long-term contracts with major players in grocery, retail, and food distribution across the U.S. and Canada.
The company’s autonomous technology is purpose-built for short-haul, B2B logistics routes—a sector uniquely suited to automation given its repetitive, structured nature and high service demands. Unlike robotaxi developers that face complex urban driving challenges, Gatik focuses on constrained routes and consistent delivery patterns, enabling earlier, safer deployment.
Positioning for Long-Term Success
With Archambault and Otteson joining a leadership team already recognized for pushing the boundaries of autonomous logistics, Gatik is now better equipped than ever to manage the complexities of expansion, capital management, regulatory compliance, and public readiness.
The appointments reinforce Gatik’s core mission: to transform the supply chain through autonomy by making logistics safer, more sustainable, and more efficient. They also send a clear message to customers, investors, and partners that Gatik is not just building cutting-edge technology—it’s building a resilient, scalable business prepared to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.
As the company eyes a pivotal year ahead, one thing is clear: Gatik is not just keeping pace with the future of logistics—it’s driving it.
