Aidan Gomez
About Aidan Gomez
Aidan Gomez is an independent Class II director of Rivian Automotive, Inc., age 28, appointed in April 2025. He is CEO, Co‑Founder and board member of Cohere Inc. (enterprise AI), and previously was a researcher at Google’s deep learning Google Brain project; he holds a B.S. from University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Oxford University . The Board affirmatively determined Gomez is “independent” under Nasdaq rules .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google (Google Brain) | Researcher | Not disclosed | Deep learning research experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohere Inc. | Chief Executive Officer, Co‑Founder, Board Member | Since Sep 2019 | Security‑first enterprise AI company; leadership and AI expertise |
Board Governance
- Board class and tenure: Class II director (term expires at the 2026 Annual Meeting); served as a director since April 2025 .
- Independence: Board determined Gomez qualifies as independent under Nasdaq rules; no family relationships among directors/executives .
- Committee assignments: As of April 23, 2025, Gomez is not listed as a member of the Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Governance, or Planet & Policy committees .
- Board leadership and executive sessions: Rivian combines Chair/CEO roles (Scaringe) with Karen Boone as Lead Independent Director; independent directors meet regularly in executive session led by Boone .
- Attendance: The company reports that during FY 2024, each incumbent director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; Gomez joined in April 2025 (no 2024 attendance applicable) .
Fixed Compensation
Non‑employee director cash retainer framework:
| Compensation Element | Amount per Year | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Cash Retainer | $50,000 | |
| Lead Independent Director Retainer | $75,000 | |
| Audit Committee | $25,000 Chair; $12,500 Member | |
| Compensation Committee | $20,000 Chair; $10,000 Member | |
| Nominating & Governance Committee | $15,000 Chair; $7,500 Member | |
| Planet & Policy Committee | $25,000 Chair; $7,500 Member |
Program notes:
- Directors may elect to receive cash retainers in fully vested RSUs, with share count based on the average closing price in the prior month; deferred settlement is available .
- Directors are reimbursed for reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses .
Performance Compensation
Equity awards for directors (time‑based; no performance metrics):
| Award Type | Grant Value Basis | Vesting | Change in Control | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial RSU award (on appointment) | $250,000 (three‑year award) | Vests in equal annual installments over 3 years | Vests upon Change in Control | |
| Initial prorated RSU (to next AGM) | $250,000 × months to AGM / 12 | Vests in full at next annual meeting | Vests upon Change in Control | |
| Annual RSU (at AGM) | $250,000 | Vests in full on one‑year anniversary | Vests upon Change in Control |
Performance metrics tied to director compensation: None disclosed; director equity is solely time‑based RSUs, not PSU/option‑linked to financial targets .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Interlocks/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohere Inc. | Private | Board Member | No Rivian‑disclosed related‑party transactions involving Cohere/Gomez |
No other current public company directorships disclosed for Gomez in the proxy .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technical: AI/ML leadership; CEO/Co‑Founder of enterprise AI firm; prior deep learning research at Google Brain .
- Education: B.S. University of Toronto; Ph.D. Oxford University (Computer Science) .
- Board qualification: Technology and AI expertise cited by Rivian as rationale for Board service .
Equity Ownership
Beneficial ownership (as of April 23, 2025):
| Holder | Shares Class A | % Class A | RSUs Vesting ≤60 Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Gomez | — | <1% | Not disclosed | No holdings shown in beneficial ownership table |
Alignment policies:
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Insider Trading Compliance Policy prohibits short sales, hedging and pledging without Board approval; as of April 29, 2025 no such transactions have been approved .
- Ownership guidelines for directors: Not disclosed in proxy; directors can elect RSUs in lieu of cash fees .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independence affirmed; AI domain expertise expands Board skill mix as Rivian invests in software/electrical architecture; robust anti‑hedging/clawback regimes and regular executive sessions led by the Lead Independent Director support investor alignment .
- Watch‑items: Newly appointed (April 2025) with no committee assignments to date, limiting immediate committee‑level oversight leverage; director‑specific ownership not yet visible in beneficial ownership table, reducing near‑term “skin‑in‑the‑game” optics until RSUs accumulate .
- Conflicts: No related‑party transactions involving Gomez reported; Board independence review found no relationships interfering with independent judgment .
Insider Trades
No Form 4 insider trading activity by Aidan Gomez is disclosed in the proxy; beneficial ownership table shows no Class A holdings as of the record date. For current Form 4 transactions, review SEC filings outside the proxy .