State attorney who had role in incentives joins EV automaker
Electric vehicle startup Rivian has added a new high-profile staff member — a familiar face from Georgia’s economic development department.
Andrew Capezzuto, the chief administrative officer and general counsel with the state Department of Economic Development, announced Wednesday on social media he’s leavingthe agency to join Rivian as its new director of corporate affairs. For nine years, Capezzuto served as the department’s top lawyer, and among his responsibilities for the state was advocating for tax credit programs and corporate incentive packages.
Capezzuto was a key figure in the $1.5 billion incentive package consisting of state and local tax breaks, grants, free land and infrastructure offered to woo Rivian to Georgia, where the company plans to build a $5 billion EV factory and employ 7,500 workers. Rivian has to complete 80% of its investment and job goals in the plant by 2028 to receive its incentives, which are subject to claw back provisions if the company doesn’t meet those metrics.
At the time, it was the largest incentive package in U.S. history offered to an automobile company and the most expensive in Georgia history. It has since been surpassedin Georgia by the $1.8 billion package offered to Hyundai for its forthcoming EV factory near Savannah.
On LinkedIn, Capezzuto said he’s proud of his time with the state, touting the large economic development projects he helped close.
“I am happy that I was able to be a part of that journey and to help make Georgia a better place,” he wrote. Capezzuto could not immediately be reached for comment.
Online news outlet Georgia Entertainment was the first to report on Capezzuto’s change in employment. Alan Hoffman, Rivian’s chief policy officer, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a statement that he’s “delighted to welcome Andrew to the Rivian team.”
“We look forward to continuing to build our permanent presence in the state as we approach start of construction on our new facility and the future launch of our R2 vehicle line,” his statement continued. Cox Enterprises, owner ofthe AJC, owns about a 4% stake in Rivian.