BEDFORD, Mass. — Soft Robotics Inc., which designs and manufactures systems using compliant grippers to enable the automation of variable products and processes, today announced new management appointments.

Effective July 1, 2020, Jeffrey Beck will be executive chairman of Soft Robotics. He will lead overall business, financial, commercial, and organizational strategies, said the company.

Beck brings over 30 years of technology business leadership experience. Beginning as an engineer with Emerson Electric’s Industrial Controls business, he went on to lead large automation, power systems and aerospace businesses for Danaher and AMETEK Corporations.

Later, Beck joined iRobot Corp., where he helped lead a period of rapid growth and wide-scale adoption of consumer robotics, said Soft Robotics.

“After having served on the Soft Robotics board now for several years, I’m delighted to become more involved in scaling up and commercializing the breakthrough technologies it has developed,” stated Beck.

Soft Robotics appoints new COO

Also effective July 1, Mark Chiappetta will be chief operating officer (COO), reporting to the executive chairman. In this role, he will lead engineering, technology, product management, applications engineering, and all other company operational departments.

Chiappetta has dedicated over 25 years to building and growing innovative robotics and automation businesses. Before joining the company in 2016, Mark held senior leadership positions at BionX Medical Technologies and iRobot.

“The outstanding team at Soft Robotics is solving some of the most challenging problems found in robotic automation today,” Chiappetta said. “I’m excited to take on this new leadership role and delighted for the opportunity to work closely with Jeff again.”

“The board is delighted to have Jeff and Mark in these senior leadership roles at Soft Robotics,” said Carmichael Roberts of Material Impact. “They have strong track records of commercializing high-value technologies into large scale and profitable enterprises and are well suited to lead the business’ next phase.”

Board bids farewell to Carl Vause

The board of Soft Robotics also announced that Carl Vause is stepping down from his role of CEO. He led the company‘s journey from George Whitesides’ laboratory at Harvard University to its formation and current structure.

Soft Robotics said its SuperPick and mGrip systems are designed to adapt to manufacturing and supply chain variability without the cost and complexity of traditional robotic systems. The company, which won an RBR50 innovation award for the fourth year in a row, serves global customers in food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, order fulfillment, and reverse logistics.