# Rivian's CFO Claire McDonough Steps Down

McDonough is leaving to join GE Vernova as CFO.

- **Source:** [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com)
- **Published:** 2026-08-27
- **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business)
- **Original article:** <https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/27/rivians-cfo-is-leaving-the-company/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/81535d64-a7dd-4e65-a1e3-01c5fc583331

## Rivian CFO Claire McDonough's Departure

Rivian's chief financial officer Claire McDonough announced she will resign at the end of October. McDonough is leaving to pursue a new opportunity and relocate to the East Coast to be closer to her family. The company stated her departure is not due to any disagreement. Vice president of finance Derek Mulvey will serve as interim CFO.

## Transition to GE Vernova

McDonough will take on the CFO role at Massachusetts-based GE Vernova. The energy equipment manufacturer and her LinkedIn post confirmed the move. McDonough joined Rivian as CFO in January 2021 during a critical period. Her previous roles include positions at JP Morgan and Fairway Market.

## Rivian's Major Projects

McDonough's departure coincides with Rivian undertaking significant projects, including scaling production and sales of its R2 SUV, which began customer deliveries this summer. Rivian raised billions as a private company to bring its electric vehicles to market, including the R1T truck and R1S SUV.

## Stock Performance and Challenges

In McDonough's first year, Rivian started R1T production and raised $12 billion in one of the year's largest IPOs. The stock debuted at $78 but has since fallen to $16.80 as of Thursday. Rivian faced supply chain constraints and rising costs, which impacted its financial performance.

## Cost Control and Balance

McDonough was instrumental in Rivian's efforts to improve its cost of revenue. Despite no direct automotive experience, she worked closely with design and engineering teams. Alongside founder and CEO RJ Scaringe, she focused on producing modern, compelling vehicles without losing money on each sale.

## Volkswagen Partnership

McDonough played a key role in Rivian's technology joint venture with Volkswagen Group. Finalized in November 2024, the deal involves VW investing up to $5.8 billion by 2027 in exchange for access to Rivian's electrical architecture and software expertise.

## McDonough's Legacy at Rivian

In a LinkedIn post, McDonough called transforming Rivian from an ambitious vision to a category-defining enterprise the highlight of her career. She highlighted the launches of the R1T, R1S, and commercial van, as well as technology innovation and positioning the company for global profitability.

## Rivian's Future Outlook

McDonough's departure marks a pivotal moment for Rivian. As the company searches for a new CFO, maintaining financial discipline is crucial to remain competitive in the EV market. The success of the R2 SUV and the Volkswagen partnership will be critical to Rivian's future growth and stability.

## Sources covering this story

- https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/27/rivians-cfo-is-leaving-the-company/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._