Rivian CFO Claire McDonough to resign and join GE Vernova

**Rivian CFO Claire McDonough to Leave Company After Nearly Six Years**

Rivian Automotive has announced that Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough will leave the electric vehicle company on October 30, ending nearly six years in the role. McDonough joined Rivian in January 2021 and has been closely involved in the company’s transformation from an ambitious EV startup into a major electric vehicle manufacturer.

Rivian said McDonough is stepping down to pursue a new professional opportunity and relocate to the U.S. East Coast to be closer to her family.

The company emphasized that her departure is not connected to any disagreement with Rivian’s management team or board of directors. Rivian has already begun searching for a permanent successor and is evaluating both internal and external candidates. Until a new CFO is appointed, Vice President of Finance Derek Mulvey is expected to serve as interim chief financial officer. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe praised McDonough for her contributions during a critical period of expansion and said Mulvey would help ensure a smooth transition.

McDonough joined Rivian at a pivotal moment, just months before the company went public in 2021. She played a significant role in guiding the automaker through its initial public offering, which raised approximately $13.7 billion and ranked among the largest U.S. IPOs at the time. During her tenure, she worked closely with Scaringe and other executives on financial planning, capital allocation, strategic partnerships and investor relations.

Her responsibilities also included helping Rivian expand its manufacturing operations and prepare for increased vehicle production. Before joining Rivian, McDonough worked as a vice president at JPMorgan, bringing extensive financial and investment experience to the EV manufacturer. During her time at Rivian, the company launched three major vehicle programs: the R1T electric pickup truck, the R1S electric SUV and its commercial delivery van. McDonough also contributed to the company’s strategic relationship with German automaker Volkswagen.

Under a technology partnership finalized in 2024, Volkswagen agreed to invest as much as $5.8 billion in Rivian by 2027 in exchange for access to the company’s electrical architecture and software technology. Rivian is now entering another important stage with the launch of its R2 SUV, which began reaching customers this summer. Increasing R2 production and sales is expected to be critical to Rivian’s plans to expand its customer base and move toward greater scale and profitability.

McDonough said in a LinkedIn post that helping launch Rivian’s R1T, R1S and commercial van was among the defining achievements of her career. She also highlighted the company’s technology development, partnerships, go-to-market operations and preparations for global expansion. McDonough has already secured her next position and is set to become chief financial officer at Massachusetts-based energy equipment company GE Vernova.

Her move comes as Rivian continues to manage the financial challenges associated with expanding EV production and developing new vehicle platforms. Investors reacted negatively to the announcement, with Rivian shares falling 2.1% in after-hours trading. The company’s stock closed Thursday at $16.80, significantly below its $78 debut price during the 2021 IPO. Despite the market reaction, Rivian described the leadership transition as orderly and expressed confidence in Mulvey’s ability to oversee financial operations while the search for a permanent CFO continues.

McDonough’s departure marks the end of an important chapter for Rivian, as she leaves after helping guide the company through its IPO, vehicle launches, manufacturing expansion and major strategic partnerships. Her successor will inherit a critical financial role as Rivian seeks to increase R2 production, strengthen its business and move closer to long-term profitability.