Rivian’s CFO is leaving the company
Rivian’s chief financial officer, Claire McDonough, will leave the electric‑vehicle maker on October 30, according to a regulatory filing released Thursday. McDonough, who joined Rivian in January 2021, is stepping down to “pursue a new opportunity and relocate to the East Coast to be closer to her family,” and has been hired as CFO of Massachusetts‑based GE Vernova, a move she confirmed on LinkedIn. Rivian said her resignation is not the result of any disagreement and that vice‑president of finance Derek Mulvey will serve as interim CFO while the company searches for a permanent replacement. Her departure comes as Rivian ramps up production of its newly launched R2 SUV, which began shipping to customers this summer, and continues to scale its broader vehicle lineup.
During her tenure, McDonough guided Rivian through a period of rapid growth and financial turbulence. She oversaw the company’s initial public offering, which raised $12 billion and debuted at $78 per share before the stock fell to $16.80 by Thursday’s close, reflecting the challenges of scaling production, supply‑chain constraints and high capital burn. Although she lacked direct automotive experience, her background at JP Morgan and Fairway Market helped her work closely with design, engineering and CEO RJ Scaringe to improve the balance sheet and control cost of revenue. McDonough also led corporate and business development, vehicle maintenance, facilities and the charging network, and played a key role in the joint venture with Volkswagen Group that secured up to $5.8 billion in investment by 2027 in exchange for access to VW’s electrical architecture and software expertise.
Insiders note that McDonough’s exit occurs at a pivotal moment as Rivian seeks to achieve global scale and profitability with the R2 launch. Her LinkedIn farewell highlighted contributions to the R1T, R1S, commercial van, and technology partnerships that positioned the company for the next growth phase. The interim appointment of Mulvey suggests Rivian aims for continuity while it evaluates candidates who can sustain the financial discipline McDonough helped instill. The transition will be watched by investors and industry observers, given the company’s ongoing efforts to balance ambitious expansion with the need to stabilize its financial footing.
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