Industrial automation
10 factory robotics deployment experts
These ten engineering and operations leaders have held robotics and automation roles inside manufacturing companies, with titles or profiles that name robotics work directly. A reader can ask them how to pick the first robot applications, plan integration on a running line and keep robotic cells productive after launch.
Professionals to explore
01—10Abdou Deban
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Group Manager Automaton Execution-Cobot Commodity Team · General Motors
Engineering Group Manager Automaton Execution-Cobot Commodity Team at General Motors since 2026, and former Manufacturing Optimization Engineering Group Manager Automation Optimization Execution at General Motors Company (2024–2026). His profile describes driving automation, controls, robotics and plant-floor system execution across GM's global manufacturing footprint, and building enterprise strategies and governance models.
Derek Walker
LinkedInExperience: Senior Manager DX Modern Factory · Toyota Boshoku America
Senior Manager DX Modern Factory at Toyota Boshoku America since 2023, and former DX Modern Factory Manager there (2023). His profile says the current role covers planning, deployment and management of digital transformation systems across North America, including planning and deployment of logistics automation with autonomous mobile robots, vision-guided pick-and-place robotics and collaborative robots.
Jason Chen
LinkedInExperience: Director of Robotics Operations · Applied Materials
Former Director of Robotics Operations at Applied Materials (2020–2024) and former Automation Operations Manager at Tesla (2010–2018). His profile describes management responsibility for the operation of enterprise-level robotics and automation systems, with a long-term focus on the large-scale deployment and stable operation of those systems.
Justin Zielinski
LinkedInExperience: Sr Engineering Group Manager Autonomous Robotics Center - Deployment & Strategy · General Motors
Former Sr Engineering Group Manager Autonomous Robotics Center - Deployment & Strategy at General Motors (2024–2025) and former Manager - Integration & Automated Material Movement at General Motors (2023–2024). Since 2025 he has been Director of Global Operations Transformation Supply Chain, Automation & Technology at Medtronic, and his profile describes him as a manufacturing technology and automation executive.
Kevin Laurence
LinkedInExperience: Director of Robotics and Automation · Pratt & Whitney
Former Director of Robotics and Automation at Pratt & Whitney (2019–2022), and Director Automated Manufacturing Systems at Pratt & Whitney since 2020. His profile says the current role is responsible for robotics, integrated manufacturing systems and the operational technology network.
Luiz Esteves
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Manager - Robotics and Packaging Engineering · Takeda
Engineering Manager - Robotics and Packaging Engineering at Takeda since 2023, and former Lead, Robotics and Fill Finish at Takeda (2021–2023). As Automation Leader - Industry 4.0 at Takeda (2020–2021), his profile says he was responsible for managing and running the Industry 4.0 initiative for the Takeda Belgium site.
Matthew Jozwiak
LinkedInExperience: Engineering Group Manager - Advanced Automation Development, Strategy, and Deployment - GA Robotics · General Motors
Engineering Group Manager - Advanced Automation Development, Strategy, and Deployment - GA Robotics at General Motors since 2024, and former GA Manufacturing Engineering Architecture Style Lead at General Motors (2020–2024). His profile ties the current role to general assembly robotic execution and says it includes identifying and evaluating emerging manufacturing technologies, trends and best practices.
Richard Peng
LinkedInExperience: Director of Robotics and Automation · Ford Motor Company
Former Director of Robotics and Automation at Ford Motor Company (2018–2024). His profile says he was responsible for automation and robotics strategy in global manufacturing plants, led a 120-person engineering team, and led a smart assembly line transformation project that resulted in a 25% increase in productivity.
Sudheesh V S
LinkedInExperience: Manufacturing Engineering Sr. Manager · General Motors
Former Manufacturing Engineering Sr. Manager at General Motors (2021–2024) and former Tech Lead - Robotics, V S Automation at General Motors (2011–2021). His profile describes 13 years of technical lead experience at General Motors Technical Centre India, where he led the welding and robotic function for General Motors International Operations, plus three years in a people leader role there.
Vivek Marathe
LinkedInExperience: Manager (Lead) Robotics & Automation · Varroc
Manager (Lead) Robotics & Automation at Varroc since 2021, and former Manager - Automation & Control (Central Engineering) at CIE Automotive India Ltd. (2011–2021). His profile cites 14 years of experience in robotics and automation projects, covering project conceptualization, team building, robot programming on KUKA, ABB and Motoman systems, PLC programming, electrical design and project handover.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's plant setting and product type to yours, since robot integration differs between high-volume assembly, regulated production and component manufacturing. For a strategy or budget decision, favor people who held group-level or multi-site roles; for a single line or cell, favor those whose profiles describe hands-on project delivery.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you decide which production steps to automate with robots first, and what business case did you use to win funding?
- 02What went wrong during installation and ramp-up of a robotic cell on a running line, and how did you recover?
- 03How do you organize programming, maintenance and spare-parts support so robots stay productive once the integrator has left?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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