Boston Dynamics, the Massachusetts-based robotics company famous for its four-legged and humanoid robots, is undergoing a leadership transition. Robert Playter announced in an internal memo on Tuesday that he will step down as chief executive. Amanda McMaster, the company’s chief financial officer, will serve as interim CEO while a permanent replacement is found.
Playter took leadership of Boston Dynamics in 2020, succeeding founder Marc Raibert. He dedicated thirty years to the company, previously holding positions such as vice president of engineering and chief operating officer.
The company was founded in 1992 by Raibert as a spinoff from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a professor. Its ownership has changed hands several times. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, purchased Boston Dynamics in 2013. The company was then sold to the Japanese investment conglomerate SoftBank in 2017. Hyundai, its current owner, acquired Boston Dynamics in 2021.
The robotics maker is best known for its quadruped robot, Spot, which was commercialized in 2020 shortly after Playter became CEO. The company most recently unveiled Atlas, a new humanoid robot.