Stäubli to welcome new CEO, plans for growth in North America

Stäubli will begin 2021 with a new chief executive officer.

Gerald Vogt, who has been responsible for the global business of the industrial company’s robotics division since 2016, will take over as CEO from Rolf Strebel on Jan. 1.

Vogt is a Franco-German engineer and business economist who joined Stäubli almost 20 years ago.

He initially moved from the development and production site in Faverges, France, to the U.S. for several years, where he expanded business for Stäubli Robotics North America.

Following that, he returned to France as head of development before taking over responsibility for the German business as head of Stäubli Robotics in Bayreuth.

Vogt, who has been shadowing Strebel throughout 2020 to prepare for the role, will be responsible for the introduction and implementation of the new business strategy for Stäubli through 2030.

One of those goals is further growth throughout North America and Asia. The company operates several facilities in South Carolina, Michigan and California.

“We are delighted to have found in Gerald Vogt a forward-looking manager with extensive international experience and a clear entrepreneurial spirit who is already very well connected within the group,” says Yves Serra, chairman of the board of directors, in a statement.

“On behalf of the entire board of directors and the Stäubli family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rolf Strebel for more than 40 years of dedication to Stäubli and his outstanding work as CEO of the Stäubli Group over the past 14 years.”

Christophe Coulongeat, currently the deputy division manager of the robotics division, will assume the global responsibility for the robotics division on Jan. 1.