Tesla's CFO steps down (again), Super Bowl commercials add up, and more top news

The news professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation on today's stories in the comments.

In the latest in a string of executive departures for Tesla, CFO Deepak Ahuja is retiring — for the second time. Ahuja, who first retired from the electric carmaker in 2015 before CEO Elon Musk brought him back in 2017, will be replaced by the Finance VP. In an update to shareholders, Musk reported a $140 million profit in the fourth period — Tesla’s first-ever consecutive quarterly profit — and committed to achieving a profit in every quarter of 2019. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Super Bowl host network CBS is charging a record $5.25 million for a 30-second ad during this year's game. Last year, advertisers spent $408 million on in-game Super Bowl air time, says The Wall Street Journal — not counting the $1-5 million extra for production costs per ad. Automotive companies and alcoholic beverages were the biggest ad spenders this year. Around 100 million people are expected to watch the game between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. ? Here’s what people are saying.

In spite of recent controversies, Facebook has posted a record quarterly profit, demonstrating that advertisers continue to be drawn to the social media giant. CEO Mark Zuckerberg used the fourth-quarter earnings announcement to say the company has turned a corner and is building new products in 2019. Facebook’s stock rose nearly 12% to about $168 in after-hours trading yesterday. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Foxconn is backpedaling on plans to make flat screen panels in Wisconsin — a 2017 pledge touted by President Trump and backed by state subsidies to create 13,000 jobs. The Taiwan-based manufacturing giant is rethinking the plant, according to reports, making it a center of research and design instead of the blue-collar manufacturing jobs that were promised. The firm cited labor costs and a changing global market environment as reasons for the shift. ? Here’s what people are saying.

At least six deaths were linked to temperatures as low as minus-48 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Midwest, and states of emergency were declared in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. A polar vortex, or Arctic blast, has forced the cancellation of thousands of flights across the region, as well as delivery by the U.S. Postal Service.  ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: The success of any company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us, says Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of PepsiCo Latin America and Europe Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The private sector has a responsibility to act and our experience shows that the effort is more than worth it.”

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