Rigetti Computing, Inc. filed a Form 8-K with the SEC on August 19, 2026, disclosing the appointment of David Rivas as Chief Operating Officer and Andrew Bestwick as Chief Technology Officer, both effective August 18, 2026.

Key Highlights

  • New COO appointed: David Rivas was appointed to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, effective August 18, 2026.
  • Prior role: Rivas previously served as the company's Chief Technology Officer since February 2023.
  • Salary increase: The Compensation Committee increased Rivas' annual base salary to $440,000 in connection with the appointment.
  • New CTO named: Andrew Bestwick was appointed Chief Technology Officer, effective August 18, 2026, having previously served as Senior Vice President, Quantum Systems since January 2024.
  • Bestwick's tenure: Bestwick joined Rigetti in August 2015 and held roles spanning chip fabrication, circuit design, cryo-RF hardware engineering, and system architecture.

Rigetti Elevates Rivas to COO, Names Bestwick as CTO

According to the filing, Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI), headquartered in Berkeley, California, reported two simultaneous leadership changes under Item 5.02 and Item 8.01 of its Form 8-K. David Rivas, age 65, was appointed to the newly created Chief Operating Officer role by the Board of Directors on August 18, 2026. His prior position as Chief Technology Officer, which he held since February 2023, preceded an earlier tenure as Senior Vice President, Systems and Services beginning in March 2019, during which he oversaw engineering and operations of the company's Quantum Cloud Services platform.

In connection with Rivas' promotion, the filing disclosed that the Compensation Committee of the Board increased his annual base salary to $440,000. The filing stated that "there is no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Rivas and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Rivas was selected as the Company's Chief Operating Officer," and confirmed no reportable related party transactions under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K and no family relationships with any directors or officers.

Separately, the Board appointed Andrew Bestwick as Chief Technology Officer, also effective August 18, 2026. Bestwick had served as Senior Vice President, Quantum Systems since January 2024, and the filing noted he worked in a variety of technical capacities at Rigetti beginning in August 2015, including chip fabrication, circuit design, cryo-RF hardware engineering, and system architecture. The company issued a press release regarding the leadership changes on August 19, 2026, furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to the filing.

What Was Disclosed

Rigetti Computing disclosed two executive appointments: David Rivas as Chief Operating Officer with an annual base salary of $440,000, and Andrew Bestwick as Chief Technology Officer, both effective August 18, 2026, along with a related press release issued August 19, 2026.