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Vecna Robotics counterbalanced low lift vehicle. | Image credit: Vecna

Vecna Robotics named Craig Malloy its CEO today. Malloy will focus on the organizational and operational needs to scale and meet the growing demand for Vecna’s robotic platforms and orchestration software. Founder Daniel Theobald will resume his roles as chief innovation officer and executive chairman of the board. Dan Patt stepped down as CEO of Vecna Robotics in September 2019.

Malloy brings 25 years of experience in founding, scaling and leading global technology companies in venture capital, publicly traded and private equity environments, including Lifesize, Bloomfire and ViaVideo. Before entering the corporate world, he served as a Lieutenant, Surface Warfare Officer and Nuclear Weapons Officer in the United States Navy. Malloy holds a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management.

“In addition to delivering world-class products that make customers’ lives easier, Vecna Robotics has always put a premium on employing good people who are committed to making the world a better place. I couldn’t think of anyone more suited to continue to execute this vision and lead this talented team than Craig,” said Theobald. “Craig has an impressive track record in scaling businesses across the globe. As we mature and grow as a company, his leadership will be instrumental for Vecna Robotics’ next stage of growth.”

“Daniel is unequivocally one of the worlds’ foremost roboticists and automation experts. At his request, we ran a thoughtful process to find a similarly exceptional CEO to lead Vecna Robotics through the next phases of growth,” said Trevor Zimmerman, co-founder and managing partner of Blackhorn Ventures, lead investor for Vecna Robotics’ Series B fundraising round. “We’re delighted to have found that leader. Craig and Daniel are already proving to be a formidable combination, driving value for our customers and shareholders.”

Vecna in December 2020 released an Autonomous Counterbalanced Fork Truck that offers a vertical lift of up to 72 in. (182 cm). It said the Autonomous Counterbalanced Fork Truck includes dynamic obstacle avoidance to navigate warehouses easily and safely and complies with industry regulations such as ANSI B56.5-2019.

Additionally, the company recently partnered with other robotics organizations to publish an autonomous mobile robot interoperability standard, which enable robots from different vendors to “speak” the same language and work together cooperatively.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time to serve the robotics and automation market. Now, more than ever, materials handling companies require solutions that deliver greater flexibility and resilience to survive and compete in a rapidly changing global market,” said Malloy. “I have been building technology companies for a long time, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the technology, talent, customer portfolio, and culture of innovation that Daniel and his team have built. I am thrilled to step into this role on such a solid foundation as we continue to scale Vecna Robotics to new heights.”

Theobald was a guest on The Robot Report Podcast in September 2020. He discussed his passion for agriculture and how robotics are being used on his family’s farm in California. He also talked about the state of autonomous mobile robots, reasons why warehouse automation fails, how enabling technologies are making AMRs more efficient, and his work on interoperability standards. You can listen to the interview below starting at the 2:43 mark.