Rivian replaces COO. Hires Javier Varela, who was most recently Volvo’s COO and Deputy CEO

[DuoRivians]

https://www.businesswire.com/news/h...res-Javier-Varela-as-Chief-Operations-Officer

Rivian Hires Javier Varela as Chief Operations Officer

May 3, 2024

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIVN) announced today Javier Varela will join as its Chief Operations Officer as the company focuses on optimizing operational efficiencies, including the production of R2, its midsized SUV. Varela joins Rivian from Volvo Cars, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Varela will start at Rivian in August and will report directly to Rivian Founder and Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe.

Varela succeeds Frank Klein, who has served as Rivian’s COO since June 2022. Klein is stepping down after leading the buildout of Rivian’s operations, as well as scaling vehicle production of the EDV and R1 programs.

Varela has spent the last eight years at Volvo Cars, where he led the engineering, program management, manufacturing, supply chain and procurement organizations. He oversaw the company’s three main regions, including 14 industrial sites, engineering sites and tech hubs worldwide. He began his career at PSA Group (now Stellantis) in 1990.

At Rivian, Varela will be central to the company’s growth and profitability. He will oversee operations including procurement, manufacturing, logistics and quality.

“We are thrilled that Javier is bringing his deep experience in the automotive industry to Rivian as we are focused on profitability, operational excellence and delivering R2 to customers as soon as possible,” said RJ Scaringe. “Javier has a strong background in engineering, program management and innovation and a proven track record of success across a range of operating environments. We look forward to welcoming Javier to Rivian. We also thank Frank for his many contributions to Rivian and wish him the best in his next chapter.”

Varela joins Rivian as the company prepares the Normal factory for start of production of R2, its midsize platform unveiled in March. This new midsize SUV will deliver a combination of performance, capability and utility in a five-seat package optimized for big adventures and everyday use. The platform will underpin R2 and R3 product lines.

“Rivian’s commitment to pushing the industry forward with technologically advanced, highly innovative vehicles is something I’ve admired for a long time,” said Varela. “I’m looking forward to helping the company scale and continue to innovate as it rolls out R2 and its next generation of vehicles.”

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[Zoidz]

This looks like a good fit. Rivian is struggling to transition from a startup to a volume producer. I think Volvo is (was?) similar to Rivian's target market demographics as well as where Rivian production volumes want to grow to. Volvo produced about 700K cars last year so his experience is "right sized", as opposed to bringing in someone from GM, Toyota, etc.

 

[SilverII]

Did they say where Frank Klein is going?

 

[Rividiculous]

Thank you for posting.

I sometimes wonder if Rivian’s c-suite offices should be in Irvine. Is that where the software development is done?

It seems like they should all be in Normal—at least until the R2 is out.

 

[DuoRivians]

Thank you for posting.

I sometimes wonder if Rivian’s c-suite offices should be in Irvine. Is that where the software development is done?

It seems like they should all be in Normal—at least until the R2 is out.

Software team is based out of Palo Alto, CA. Down the street from Tesla! Haha

 

[DuoRivian]

Probably a good move but not great that someone they selected two years ago has been fired.

 

[dleepnw]

This looks like a good fit. Rivian is struggling to transition from a startup to a volume producer. I think Volvo is (was?) similar to Rivian's target market demographics as well as where Rivian production volumes want to grow to. Volvo produced about 700K cars last year so his experience is "right sized", as opposed to bringing in someone from GM, Toyota, etc.

uuuuhhh, that's exactly what the previous guy was supposed to do.

 

[s0ysauce]

Volvo and to an extension Polestar are making great vehicles. If the EX90 came out first, I would have bought that instead of the R1S. Hopefully this guy can help with the QC and Service Center issues a lot of folks have.

 

[R1TCA]

Probably a good move but not great that someone they selected two years ago has been fired.

I think the mantra of hire slow fire fast is not a bad one for start up companies. If he wasn’t a good fit, cut em loose. Find another candidate that has potential and go from there.

 

[SDH]

I think the mantra of hire slow fire fast is not a bad one for start up companies. If he wasn’t a good fit, cut em loose. Find another candidate that has potential and go from there.

I like this. Even the biggest and most well-established companies hire the odd dud but all too often haven't got the balls to fire them. I'm not suggesting RJ and the C-suite need to be all "hardcore" like Tesla, but they've got to be pretty ruthless at this stage of their growth. Good on them. Volvo/Polestar have been doing a pretty good job of late.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

uuuuhhh, that's exactly what the previous guy was supposed to do.

I thought he came from Magna and the hope was that he could help them with some of their supplier bottlenecks and renegotiating contracts with suppliers. Based on available evidence, the bottleneck is now demand, not supply of parts. Also the belief in getting to positive gross margins this year is based on reduced costs of supply, so it sounds like he was successful at that as well.

 

[BrayBay]

Throwback to "Frank in Real time," he seemed like a cool guy from humble beginnings.

You made them [cookie bites]? Nice!

 

[defcon888]

https://www.businesswire.com/news/h...res-Javier-Varela-as-Chief-Operations-Officer

Rivian Hires Javier Varela as Chief Operations Officer

May 3, 2024

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIVN) announced today Javier Varela will join as its Chief Operations Officer as the company focuses on optimizing operational efficiencies, including the production of R2, its midsized SUV. Varela joins Rivian from Volvo Cars, where he served as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Varela will start at Rivian in August and will report directly to Rivian Founder and Chief Executive Officer RJ Scaringe.

Varela succeeds Frank Klein, who has served as Rivian’s COO since June 2022. Klein is stepping down after leading the buildout of Rivian’s operations, as well as scaling vehicle production of the EDV and R1 programs.

Varela has spent the last eight years at Volvo Cars, where he led the engineering, program management, manufacturing, supply chain and procurement organizations. He oversaw the company’s three main regions, including 14 industrial sites, engineering sites and tech hubs worldwide. He began his career at PSA Group (now Stellantis) in 1990.

At Rivian, Varela will be central to the company’s growth and profitability. He will oversee operations including procurement, manufacturing, logistics and quality.

“We are thrilled that Javier is bringing his deep experience in the automotive industry to Rivian as we are focused on profitability, operational excellence and delivering R2 to customers as soon as possible,” said RJ Scaringe. “Javier has a strong background in engineering, program management and innovation and a proven track record of success across a range of operating environments. We look forward to welcoming Javier to Rivian. We also thank Frank for his many contributions to Rivian and wish him the best in his next chapter.”

Varela joins Rivian as the company prepares the Normal factory for start of production of R2, its midsize platform unveiled in March. This new midsize SUV will deliver a combination of performance, capability and utility in a five-seat package optimized for big adventures and everyday use. The platform will underpin R2 and R3 product lines.

“Rivian’s commitment to pushing the industry forward with technologically advanced, highly innovative vehicles is something I’ve admired for a long time,” said Varela. “I’m looking forward to helping the company scale and continue to innovate as it rolls out R2 and its next generation of vehicles.”

Best of luck to him. We had a Volvo XC40 Recharge before we got our R1T, I am sorry to say, it was not a great EV at all. It was in the shop 2 times in 2 months for the same issue. The range sucked (I was lucky to get 180 miles range on a full charge). It might be a great vehicle for others, but wasn't for us.

 

[ORFynder]

Throwback to "Frank in Real time," he seemed like a cool guy from humble beginnings.

I was fortunate enough to meet Frank in Normal and Laguna Beach, He was very warm and loved getting to know Rivian customers. Wish him the best.

 

[Nine_One_Six_R1S]

Software team is based out of Palo Alto, CA. Down the street from Tesla! Haha

Now I know why there is a lot of similarities with features/software. I guess there is probably a lot of cross pollination with people who have jumped ships from Tesla

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