Agility Robotics, the Oregon-based robotics firm known for its bipedal humanoid warehouse robot, has appointed a new CEO to steer the company into its next stage of expansion. Peggy Johnson, the former Magic Leap CEO, and Microsoft executive, has been named to take the helm as Agility Robotics aims to up-scale their operations and meet the increasing demands in logistic automation.
In her new role, Johnson will focus on ramping up sales, forging strategic industry partnerships, and eagerly driving future fundraising initiatives. She will also concentrate on delivering Agility's robots at scale. The transition occurs as the company moves from its startup roots to a phase earmarked for significant growth. Damion Shelton, co-founder and since the establishment of Agility Robotics in 2015 its CEO, will now fill the role of president.
Johnson brings substantial tech industry experience to Agility Robotics. Before her tenure as the CEO of augmented reality firm Magic Leap, Johnson played a pivotal role at Microsoft as Vice President of Business Development and as a Vice President at Qualcomm. Her leadership at Magic Leap is most noted for pivoting its focus from consumer products to enterprise solutions, as well as managing a recapitalization of the company.
Agility Robotics' flagship robot, Digit, is tailored to operate in environments designed for humans, due to its human-like mobility. This capability was showcased in recent tests conducted in collaboration with Amazon in a warehouse outside Seattle. The innovation also caught the eye of GXO Logistics, with whom Agility announced a partnership last December. "In a field cluttered with ‘demo-ware’ and hype, Agility stands apart for having resolutely, steadily, and remarkably made a human-centric robot that actually works — and in demanding customer environments," Johnson said in a statement obtained by BizJournals.
Agility Robotics has made substantial strides in its operational capacity. According to GeekWire, the company has announced a new manufacturing plant in Salem, Oregon, with the ambition of producing more than 10,000 robots annually. Furthermore, the company is prepping to begin testing its first production line in Salem this spring and anticipates to begin shipping robots for customer trials by year-end, as reported by OregonLive.
While Johnson will remain based in California, she will partake time in offices across Palo Alto and Pittsburgh, besides the company's home base in Oregon. As the robotics industry continues to advance, the announcement signifies Agility Robotics' commitment to strengthening its leadership and maintaining its position at the forefront of cutting-edge robotic solutions for the logistics industry.
