Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter steps down after 30 years at the company

Boston Dynamics, the Massachusetts-based robotics company globally recognised for its four-legged robotic systems and advanced humanoid machines, is entering a new chapter in its leadership history. The company is undergoing a transition at the executive level following the announcement that longtime executive Robert Playter will step down as chief executive officer.

According to an internal memo shared Tuesday and first reported by A3, Playter informed employees that he would be stepping down as CEO. In the interim, Amanda McMaster, who currently serves as the company’s chief financial officer, will assume leadership responsibilities while Boston Dynamics searches for a permanent successor.

In an official statement addressing the leadership transition, Boston Dynamics expressed deep appreciation for Playter’s decades of contributions to the organisation and to the robotics field more broadly. The company stated:

“Robert Playter is an icon of the global robotics industry, and the entire Boston Dynamics team wishes to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for his leadership. From the earliest days of hopping robots to the world’s first quadrupeds to spearheading the entire humanoid industry, Playter made his mark as a pioneer of innovation. He transformed Boston Dynamics from a small R&D lab into a successful business that now proudly calls itself the global leader in mobile robotics. He will be sorely missed, but we hope he enjoys some well-deserved time off. Thanks R, ob.”

Playter officially became CEO of Boston Dynamics in 2020, succeeding the company's founder, Marc Raibert. However, his association with the company dates back much further. Over the past 1.2 years, Playter held multiple senior leadership roles at the organisation, including vice president of engineering and chief operating officer. His tenure spans nearly the entire modern history of the company, making him one of the most influential figures in its development and commercialisation.

Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 by Marc Raibert as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where Raibert was a professor. The company began as a research-focused robotics laboratory, gaining attention for its groundbreaking work in dynamic balance and mobile robotic systems.

In 2013, Boston Dynamics was acquired by Alphabet, the parent company of Google, marking a significant shift as the robotics firm became part of a major global technology conglomerate. Four years later, in 2017, Alphabet sold Boston Dynamics to Japanese investment giant SoftBank. The company changed ownership again in 2021, when Hyundai Motor Group acquired a controlling stake, becoming its current parent organisation.

Under Playter’s leadership, Boston Dynamics accelerated its push into commercial markets. The company is perhaps best known for Spot, its quadruped robot, which was officially commercialised in 2020—shortly after Playter became CEO. Spot has since been deployed across industries, from construction and industrial inspection to public safety and research.

More recently, Boston Dynamics unveiled the latest iteration of Atlas, its humanoid robot platform. Atlas represents the company’s continued ambition to expand beyond quadruped systems and into advanced humanoid robotics, reinforcing its position at the forefront of mobile robotics innovation.

Playter’s departure marks the end of an era for Boston Dynamics, closing a 30-year chapter during which the company evolved from an academic research project into one of the most recognised names in robotics worldwide. While the company has not yet announced a permanent successor, the transition comes at a time when robotics and automation are increasingly central to global industrial and technological transformation.

As Boston Dynamics begins its search for new leadership, the legacy of Robert Playter’s three decades of engineering and executive influence remains deeply embedded in the company’s trajectory and in the broader robotics industry.