EV startup Rivian hires Volvo veteran Varela as operations chief

EV startup Rivian hires Volvo veteran Varela as operations chief. Volvo veteran joins Rivian in August. He will replace Frank Klein who had been operations head since 2022. Klein is stepping down after helping with the ramp-up of the R1 SUVs and pickups.

Rivian Automotive named Javier Varela its chief operating officer on Friday. The electric-vehicle startup is expanding its production facility even as it grapples with a slowdown in demand. Volvo said earlier this week that he would leave the Swedish truck maker after an eight-year stint.