Rivian, the manufacturer of the R1S SUV, R1T pickup, and Amazon Electric Delivery Van (EDV), has appointed John Krafcik to its board of directors, citing his extensive experience spanning over 35 years in the automotive industry, as reported by Automotive News.
John Krafcik, 61, formerly served as the CEO of Waymo, Google’s self-driving car project, for more than five years before leaving the company in 2020. He continued as an advisor until the previous year. Prior to Waymo, Krafcik held leadership roles as the President of TrueCar, an online car marketplace, and the CEO of Hyundai Motor America.
RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian, expressed enthusiasm about Krafcik’s appointment, stating, “John has tremendous leadership experience in the automotive industry and an impressive track record of building and leading innovative companies. His expertise in manufacturing engineering and automotive technology will be a valuable addition to our team.”
Krafcik’s illustrious career includes almost a decade at Hyundai Motor America, where he served as Vice President of Product Development and later as CEO before departing in December 2013.
This marks the latest addition to Rivian’s cadre of seasoned automotive professionals. Recently, the California-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer named Alan Hoffman as Chief Policy Officer, entrusting him with the responsibility of implementing the company’s global public policy and regulatory strategy.
Before joining Rivian, Hoffman held the position of Head of Corporate Affairs at Carvana, an online car buying and selling platform. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Herbalife Nutrition for over eight years. Hoffman’s impressive resume also includes his role as Senior Vice President for Global Public Policy and Government Relations at PepsiCo, along with his tenure as Deputy Chief of Staff to then Vice President Biden and Deputy Assistant to President Obama.
See also: Rivian Introduces New Dual-Motor Options to Online Configurator, Offering Cost Savings for Customers
Additionally, reports from Automotive News last month indicated that Kjell Gruner, former CEO of Porsche Cars North America, is set to join Rivian in an undisclosed capacity. While not officially confirmed by Rivian, the move would add further weight to the company’s ongoing talent acquisition efforts.
As Rivian continues to expand its operations, including plans for a second factory in Georgia and the development of a new, more affordable EV platform known as R2, it is evident that the company is making strategic moves to strengthen its Human Resources department by attracting top talent from the automotive industry.
