It's not unusual for a higher up to part ways with a major company, but when you're the co-founder and your cousin is the CEO, the decision to leave after nine years seems a bit more than meets the eye.

Lyndon Rive, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer SolarCity

After around nine years since co-founding SolarCity, former CEO Lyndon Rive (Elon Musk's cousin) has announced that he's leaving Tesla, Inc. to spend more time with his family and maybe to start new company.

"Rive co-founded SolarCity with his older brother Peter in 2006 with financial backing from their cousin Musk. Peter Rive, who was SolarCity's chief technology officer, will remain to focus on the company's solar roofs."

According to Reuters, Rive was considering departing from the company a few months ago:

"My skill set and what I love doing is starting and running companies. I can hand off the baton to somebody else and give myself the opportunity to do something else that could also have another impact."