iRobot Corporation : iRobot Aligns for the Next Stage of Innovation and Growth
02/28/2012| 07:15pm US/Eastern

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Home Robots President, Jeffrey Beck Named Chief Operating Officer;
Joseph Dyer Named Chief Strategy Officer
iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in developing robotic
technology-based solutions, today announced a strategic realignment of
the company into three newly formed business units focused on home
robots, military robots and emerging technologies. Led by Jeffrey Beck
as chief operating officer (COO), the three business units will advance
iRobot's long-term growth strategy as a technology leader in remote
presence and automated home maintenance solutions. Joe Dyer, who most
recently held the position of COO, has been named chief strategy officer
(CSO). As CSO, Dyer will lead strategic business development, mergers
and acquisitions, research and advanced technology development.
Jeffrey A. Beck, Chief Operations Officer, iRobot (Photo: Business Wire)
"We have come to a point where iRobot must align the company's
organizational structure with our longer-term strategy as a technology
leader focused on a core competency of creating robot-enabled solutions
for a wide range of real-world problems," said Colin Angle, chairman and
chief executive officer of iRobot. "The use of iRobot platforms
and technologies outside of the home and military markets has grown to a
point where developing new products in the existing business structure
limited our potential for growth. The new structure allows us to build
market-facing business units around new opportunities and energize rapid
product development."
Beck has served as president of the iRobot's Home Robots division for
the last three years. Under his leadership, home robot revenue grew 75
percent and gross margins increased 13 percentage points, all while
dramatically improving the division's profitability, brand recognition
and geographic diversity. In 2011, the Home Robots division accomplished
numerous notable milestones, including the launch of two new consumer
robots, the Roomba® 700 series and the Scooba® 230 floor washing robot,
and the introduction of the iRobot Ava? mobile robotics platform. Prior
to joining the company, Beck served as senior vice president and general
manager of AMETEK Corporation's Aerospace & Defense Division and vice
president and general manager of AMETEK's Power Systems and Instruments
Division.
"Jeff has made significant and meaningful contributions to iRobot,
driving profitable growth strategies across the business, expanding new
product distribution domestically and internationally and improving
business processes," Angle continued. "As COO for the three newly formed
business units and the consolidated engineering team, I am confident he
will increase innovation and drive profitability across the business."
As CSO, Joe Dyer will be responsible for keeping iRobot on the cutting
edge of technology innovation, identifying new applications for iRobot
technology and accelerating the product development process. Dyer and
Jeff Beck will report directly to Colin Angle.
"The robotics industry is evolving rapidly. A new era of
opportunity is emerging through the combination of mobile technology
development, cloud computing and advances in robot navigation," Angle
continued. "By leveraging these advancements, robotics will play
an increasingly important role in multiple vertical industries."
Following is additional detail about the three newly formed business
units:
-
Home Robots Business Unit
To date, iRobot has sold more
than 7.5 million home robots worldwide, revolutionizing the way people
clean both inside and outside the home. Marc Dinee has been named
general manager of the Home Robots business unit. Dinee has been with
iRobot for two years, most recently as vice president of sales and
marketing for EMEA and APAC, regions where the company has experienced
significant growth.
-
Military Robots Business Unit
More than 4,500
combat-proven military robots have been delivered to military and
civil defense forces worldwide, performing thousands of dangerous
search, reconnaissance and bomb-disposal missions while protecting
those in harm's way. Tim Trainer will serve as interim general manager
of the Military Robots business unit. Trainer has been with iRobot for
three years, serving most recently as vice president of operations for
the Government and Industrial Robots division, where he was
responsible for all manufacturing, contracting and program management.
-
Emerging Technologies Business Unit
iRobot Ava is a
breakthrough mobile robotics platform developed to help robot
designers, application developers and market innovation specialists
expedite the pursuit of practical, affordable mobile robotic
solutions. New market opportunities for iRobot Ava in industries
including healthcare, retail and security present unique
opportunities. To this point, the company recently announced a $6
million investment and expanded partnership with InTouch Health, a
leading remote presence telemedicine solution provider. Existing
leadership will be responsible for these industry pursuits until a
unit leader is appointed.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot designs and builds robots that make a difference. The company's
home robots help people find smarter ways to clean, and its government
and industrial robots protect those in harm's way. iRobot's consumer and
military robots feature iRobot Aware® robot intelligence systems,
proprietary technology incorporating advanced concepts in navigation,
mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. For more information
about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.
For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on
historical information are forward-looking statements which are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or
implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things,
iRobot Corp.'s expectations concerning management's plans, objectives
and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees,
but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which
are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements.
Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date hereof. iRobot Corp. undertakes no obligation to update or revise
the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of
new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For
additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot
Corp., see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50185975&lang=en

iRobot Corp.
Elise Caffrey, 781-430-3003
Investor Relations
ecaffrey@irobot.com
or
iRobot
Corp.
Matthew Lloyd, 781-430-3720
Media Relations
mlloyd@irobot.com
© Business Wire 2012
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