---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-22-300553"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "RGTI"
cik: "0001838359"
company_name: "Rigetti Computing, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-12-08T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-21T07:42:55.665386+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Rigetti appoints Subodh Kulkarni as CEO; founder Chad Rigetti departs board Dec 15

## Summary
- Subodh Kulkarni becomes President & CEO effective Dec 12, 2022; interim CEO Rick Danis returns to General Counsel role.
- Kulkarni receives $585K base salary, discretionary target bonus of $290K, and 1.25M share initial option plus 500K performance options.
- Performance options vest if RGTI stock closes at $5 (250K shares) or $10 (250K shares) for 20 of 30 trading days within 5 years.
- Severance includes 24 months base salary, 2x target bonus, COBRA, and equity acceleration; enhanced on change of control.
- Kulkarni will join the board after Rigetti's departure on Dec 15; he previously led CyberOptics until its Nordson acquisition.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-22-300553
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: RGTI
- cik: 0001838359
- company_name: Rigetti Computing, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-12-08T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1838359/000119312522300553/0001193125-22-300553-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1838359/000119312522300553/d431423d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-300553
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-300553.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-300553.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Subodh Kulkarni was appointed as Director at Rigetti Computing, Inc..
  - Action: will be appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: It is expected that Dr. Kulkarni will be appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors following Dr. Chad Rigetti’s previously announced departure date from the Company’s Board of Directors on December 15, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1838359/000119312522300553/0001193125-22-300553-index.htm
- Executive change
  Subodh Kulkarni was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Rigetti Computing, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Dr. Subodh Kulkarni was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of Rigetti Computing, Inc. (the “Company”), effective as of December 12, 2022
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1838359/000119312522300553/0001193125-22-300553-index.htm
- Executive change
  Chad Rigetti departed as Director at Rigetti Computing, Inc..
  - Action: departed
  - Role: Director
  source text: Dr. Chad Rigetti’s previously announced departure date from the Company’s Board of Directors on December 15, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1838359/000119312522300553/0001193125-22-300553-index.htm
- Executive change
  Rick Danis changed role as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Rigetti Computing, Inc..
  - Action: stepped down as Interim President and CEO and will continue as General Counsel
  - Role: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
  source text: Mr. Rick Danis, the Company’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, will step down from such position and will continue with the Company in his role as the Company’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1838359/000119312522300553/0001193125-22-300553-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.