RJ Scaringe to serve as Rivian's interim marketing chief

[Electric Rivilution]

Rivian CEO takes top marketing role in shakeup ahead of R2 launch

Rivian’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe is taking on a new role at his company as part of a restructuring ahead of next year’s launch of the R2 SUV, which involves a layoff of more than 600 employees.

Scaringe told employees in an email on Thursday that he will be acting as Rivian’s chief marketing officer on an interim basis as the company searches for someone to fill that position for the first time. The head of Rivian’s “marketing experiences” team and the lead of the company’s creative studio will now report directly to Scaringe, according to a copy of the email obtained by TechCrunch.

It’s not clear how many direct reports Scaringe already has — a spokesperson declined to comment — though he told the Decoder podcast last year that it was a “large number.”

Rest of article - https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/23/rivian-ceo-takes-top-marketing-role-in-shakeup-ahead-of-r2-launch/

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[Dark-Fx]

More R2 production information drip please

 

[COdogman]

Create an all RXXX 24/7 streaming news channel.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Was there a CMO? Did they quit or get laid off among the 600+?

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Was there a CMO? Did they quit or get laid off among the 600+?

New position. States it right in the article.

 

[SadHill]

Odd that he is interim of a new position. You would think they would just hire an employee for a newly created job and not do it this way. As in make the position when you hired and that person started.
But what do I know

 

[Great Gatsby]

I got a few ideas. Hire me RJ!

Have some of the R2 prototypes go to showrooms to draw attention and interest. Release a configurator (with no pricing, I get why they are sensitive to that) to at least keep people busy. Start teasing out some info weekly until official release. We got this!

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

Odd that he is interim of a new position. You would think they would just hire an employee for a newly created job and not do it this way. As in make the position when you hired and that person started.
But what do I know

Not as strange as you think. If a job was taken on by others prior to making it its own position (ex. a software engineer of a new company taking on administrative duties that didn't previously exist as the company expands until the work starts impeding the engineers main task and the work is enough to create its own position) or the work cannot be put off until a new hire fills it (ex. someone quit an essential function so the work is divided among others until new person can be hired). It's pretty common.

Honestly, wasn't RJ already the chief marketer of the R2 on all the interviews he's in? Putting the joking aside, I do worry, he spreads himself too thin. He was just at the ALSO. launch too. He seems like such a nice guy, but he's a workaholic. I know he's trying to get Rivian through a terrible economy (they've been so unlucky with launching during covid and now a giant recession is coming on top of tariffs), but I feel he needs to rest just a little bit.

 

[RedRaiderRivian]

I got a few ideas. Hire me RJ!

Have some of the R2 prototypes go to showrooms to draw attention and interest. Release a configurator (with no pricing, I get why they are sensitive to that) to at least keep people busy. Start teasing out some info weekly until official release. We got this!

Set a target release date and just pull an Elmo by delivering 10 to employees on that day.

 

[iansriv]

Was there a CMO? Did they quit or get laid off among the 600+?

He was probably hanging out with the chief QC guy. I hope they replace him.

 

[Steamingoat1]

Not as strange as you think. If a job was taken on by others prior to making it its own position (ex. a software engineer of a new company taking on administrative duties that didn't previously exist as the company expands until the work starts impeding the engineers main task and the work is enough to create its own position) or the work cannot be put off until a new hire fills it (ex. someone quit an essential function so the work is divided among others until new person can be hired). It's pretty common.

Honestly, wasn't RJ already the chief marketer of the R2 on all the interviews he's in? Putting the joking aside, I do worry, he spreads himself too thin. He was just at the ALSO. launch too. He seems like such a nice guy, but he's a workaholic. I know he's trying to get Rivian through a terrible economy (they've been so unlucky with launching during covid and now a giant recession is coming on top of tariffs), but I feel he needs to rest just a little bit.

Inflation is at 2.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. The S&P 500 is up 12.3%, 3.8% GDP Growth. The world is coming to an end.

 

[scooby]

Inflation is at 2.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. The S&P 500 is up 12.3%, 3.8% GDP Growth. The world is coming to an end.

I was reading an article that individuals making $200K+ per year have a completely different outlook on the current climate. In my industry, I have made considerably north of that figure for decades. The last 4+ years have been garbage due to interest rates more than doubling.

The Average American is absolutely being hammered with the insane cost of living increase, insurance, utilities, yes, the amazing word "groceries," etc. Similar to the 2000 Crash, the 2008 Crash, you will feel it, and probably be one of the most vocal, crying when it happens. Until then, learn humility and attempt to be kind; maybe even the word empathy could be added to your repertoire?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

And the figures can’t be trusted because the agencies that used to track such things have been gutted. Each person have eyes and ears. Step out of your own bubble and observe. Some parts are strained.

 

[scooby]

And the figures can’t be trusted because the agencies that used to track such things have been gutted. Each person have eyes and years. Go out if your own bubble and observe. Some parts are strained.

100% spot on. The level of open corruption is beyond comprehension at the highest levels. My Lord.

 

[AlphaSnowbordergirl]

Inflation is at 2.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. The S&P 500 is up 12.3%, 3.8% GDP Growth. The world is coming to an end.

Didn't say it was coming to an end. But the economy is showing the warning signs that if something is not changed, we will hit a 2008 situation soon. I won't go into things as that will bring in politics. But there are caveats when it comes to your statistics that hide bigger problems underneath them. For example, the unemployment rate does not include people who have given up looking for a job due to being discouraged by the job market as unemployment only counts people actively looking for a job, the sharp increases of certain demographics having unemployment, people who are underemployed, and people who are only part time but get counted as employed even though they can't support themselves, and the sharp increase of gig economy workers because they either can't find a job or their current job doesn't cover everything and need supplemental income). If a large chunk is "employed" but can't support themselves, the unemployment rate in the end doesn't mean much as an indicator for a healthy economy.

Edit: For those who don't know what underemployment is, it is someone who is way overqualified working a job. Example, someone with a mechanical engineering degree working at McDonald's. Money is money, but when you are 40k in debt from school and you land a mcdonald's job, you're going to be bigger trouble than not going at all on a personal financial standpoint. And you're wasting that knowledge and skill that could better contribute to the economy overall.

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