Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe Takes Helm as Chief Product Officer in Strategic Leadership Shift
Key Leadership Changes at Rivian
Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has expanded his responsibilities, assuming the role of chief product officer following Nick Kalayjian’s transition to an advisory position. This strategic move, revealed in a regulatory filing and internal communications obtained by TechCrunch, positions Scaringe to directly oversee all product development at the electric vehicle manufacturer.
Why This Leadership Shift Matters
This reorganization comes at a pivotal moment for Rivian as the company:
- Develops its next-generation “Peregrine” EV platform
- Works toward more affordable electric vehicles
- Positions itself for mass market expansion
Scaringe emphasized in an internal memo that product quality remains central to Rivian’s brand perception and production ramp-up strategy.
Executive Team Realignment
Nick Kalayjian’s New Role
Kalayjian will transition to:
- Executive Vice President of Vehicle Engineering and Propulsion (reporting to Scaringe)
- Focus on finalizing the Peregrine platform for R1, R2, and EDV vehicles
- Eventually move to a product and technology advisory position
In his internal message, Kalayjian praised Scaringe as “a better mix of engineer and visionary product leader” and endorsed the CEO’s increased product focus.
Additional Leadership Changes
Reporting to RJ Scaringe:
- Richard Farquhar (new SVP of Future R&D)
- Brad Thacker (Quality)
- Georgios Sarakakis (Reliability)
Reporting to Nick Kalayjian:
- Paul Frey (expanded role covering charging, energy, adventure products, and battery)
- Silva Hiti (Electric Power Conversion)
- Henry Huang (Power and Thermal Engineering)
Strategic Implications for Rivian’s Future
This leadership reshuffle underscores Rivian’s commitment to:
- Streamlining product development under Scaringe’s direct oversight
- Maintaining engineering excellence during platform transition
- Positioning the company for its next growth phase
The changes come as Rivian prepares to launch its more affordable R2 platform, a crucial step in its mass market expansion strategy.
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