ANYbotics appoints new leaders to drive industrial robotics scale
ANYbotics has strengthened its executive team with the addition of Marc Villard as Vice-President of Operations and Alessandro Norscia as Chief Product Officer, aiming to support its expansion in the industrial robotics sector.
Operational scaling
Marc Villard joins ANYbotics from Aldebaran and brings over a decade of experience managing operations in advanced robotics, including a leadership role at SoftBank Robotics in Europe. Villard has managed the industrialisation of well-known service robots, such as NAO, Pepper, and Plato. His experience includes embedding design-for-excellence processes, expanding production in partnership with electronics manufacturing service providers, and establishing operational strategies in Europe and Asia.
As Vice-President of Operations, Villard will be tasked with scaling operations at ANYbotics as the company transitions from developing its autonomous inspection robots to deploying them at industrial scale. The company intends for Villard's appointment to enhance the reliability and efficiency of deliveries for its customer base worldwide.
"Marc joins us from Aldebaran / SoftBank Robotics, where he played a key role in scaling some of the most iconic robots in the industry, including NAO, Pepper, and Plato. With deep expertise in industrialization and global manufacturing, Marc was instrumental in taking these complex robotic systems from concept to tens of thousands of units.
At ANYbotics, we are scaling large-scale industrial deployments. Marc brings the operational excellence, production leadership, and global perspective needed to match that ambition. I'm excited to work closely with him as we grow our footprint and deliver quality at scale to customers around the world," said Péter Fankhauser, CEO & Co-Founder, ANYbotics.
Product leadership
Alessandro Norscia joins as Chief Product Officer following a career spanning more than 20 years, with senior positions at May Mobility, Intel Corporation, and Qualcomm. Norscia is regarded for his expertise in product strategy and for guiding teams at companies focused on autonomous technology.
Norscia's remit at ANYbotics will centre on building products that address customer needs and advance the firm's capabilities in robotics and automation. His experience in autonomy is expected to play a central role in the expansion of ANYbotics' portfolio.
"Alessandro joins us from May Mobility, previously at Intel Corporation and Qualcomm, with a remarkable 20+ year track record at the forefront of autonomy. Focused on building impactful products that bring real value to customers, Alessandro is recognized as one of the top minds in product leadership. He combines customer centricity with deep technical expertise and sharp strategic vision, and I couldn't be more thrilled to join forces.
We are at an inflection point, expanding the capability of our robotic solution and scaling our product ecosystem. I look forward to working closely with Alessandro as we continue shaping a category-defining platform in industrial automation," said Fankhauser.
Industry context
ANYbotics has concentrated its efforts on autonomous robots for industrial inspection tasks. Its ANYmal platform operates in sectors such as energy, power, metals, mining, and chemicals. The company focuses on improving safety and operational efficiency by providing autonomous solutions that handle routine inspections, remote operations, and predictive maintenance.
ANYbotics employs around 200 experts and has locations in Zurich and San Francisco. The company has received over USD $150 million in backing from investors in Europe and Silicon Valley.
