Apple loses electric car executive as former head of home devices moves to Rivian

DJ Novotney, a vice-president of hardware engineering, will become a senior vice-president of vehicle programmes at Rivian

The move marks yet another exit in Apple’s senior ranks, after losing a slew of executives in hardware, operations and services in 2022 and 2023

Reading Time:2 minutes

Published: 8:00pm, 28 Jan 2024

An Apple veteran who led work on home devices and helped start efforts to develop an electric vehicle is leaving for Rivian Automotive, marking yet another senior departure for the iPhone maker.

DJ Novotney, a vice-president of hardware engineering, informed colleagues Friday of his exit, according to people with knowledge of the matter. He will become senior vice-president of vehicle programmes at Rivian, the maker of electric SUVs and pickup trucks, and report to chief executive officer RJ Scaringe, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing unannounced matters.

Novotney, who worked at Apple for nearly 25 years, was known as a senior lieutenant to many of the company’s top hardware engineering executives. He was instrumental in the development of several generations of the iPod and iPhone, and was tapped by former hardware chief Dan Riccio to help lead development of the iPad, the people said.

“Great products are what we do best and I have been so very lucky along the way to be part of so many amazing teams that developed everything from iPod, iPhone, iPad, Watch and so many more,” Novotney wrote in a memo to colleagues that was seen by Bloomberg. “Apple has been my life, but now is the time for me to move on and help bring to life a new set of products.”

Novotney also helped bring the Apple Watch to market, having been brought on to the project by Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams and former head designer Jony Ive. About a decade ago, Novotney was one of a few executives tapped to kick start Apple’s efforts to develop an electric vehicle – a project code-named Titan.

Amid a reorganisation of the car project following continued setbacks a few years ago, Novotney moved on to become a senior executive in charge of developing future home devices, including some in the robotics and artificial intelligence spaces. Apple has explored a HomePod with a display that can swivel via a robotic arm, Bloomberg News has reported.

Rivian sees the hire as a major coup. Novotney, who is starting at the company on Monday, will be one of about a dozen senior vice-presidents. In his new role, he’ll lead product management for products and engineering, making him one of the company’s most critical executives.