Rivian is losing one of its longest-serving senior executives, with the company announcing today Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Claire McDonough is leaving the company this fall.
In a press release, Rivian announced that McDonough will step down on October 30, 2026, after nearly six years with the company. Vice President of Finance Derek Mulvey will take over as interim CFO while Rivian searches for a permanent replacement.
According to Rivian, McDonough is leaving to pursue another opportunity and relocate to the East Coast to be closer to family. McDonough shared on LinkedIn she will be joining GE Vernova as their CFO.
“Saying goodbye to a place that has meant so much to me will be hard. Together, we launched the R1T, R1S, and our commercial van, drove technology innovation and partnerships, built our go-to-market operations, and positioned the company for global scale and profitability with the launch of R2. Being part of taking Rivian from an ambitious vision to a category-defining enterprise has been the highlight of my career,” she said.
Nearly six years at Rivian
McDonough joined Rivian as CFO in January 2021 after more than six years at J.P. Morgan, where she rose to Managing Director and served as co-head of Disruptive Commerce. Earlier in her career, she held senior finance roles at Fairway Market.
During her nearly six years at Rivian, McDonough helped guide the company through its $13.7 billion IPO and subsequent fundraising and cost-cutting efforts. She was also involved in Rivian’s partnership with Volkswagen Group, which could see the German automaker invest up to $5.8 billion in Rivian through 2027.
CEO RJ Scaringe credited McDonough with helping establish the financial framework that supported Rivian through its early growth.
“From guiding us through our IPO to building many of our financial operating frameworks, her strategic approach has helped strengthen our overall execution,” Scaringe said.
Departure comes at a critical time for Rivian
Her departure comes just as Rivian enters one of its most important periods since launching the R1T and R1S.
The company began deliveries of the more affordable R2 in June, and is now working to ramp production of the midsize electric SUV. Rivian is counting heavily on the R2 to expand beyond the relatively expensive R1 lineup and reach a much larger segment of the EV market.
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