former head of alphabet’s loon joins starship technologies as new ceo

Starship Technologies Appoints New CEO

Starship Technologies, a leading autonomous robotics firm, has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer. The company revealed on Tuesday that Alastair Westgarth, formerly the CEO of Alphabet’s Loon, will assume leadership as it focuses on broadening its robotic delivery capabilities.

Westgarth’s Background and Experience

From 2017, Westgarth oversaw Loon, Alphabet’s initiative to provide broadband internet access through stratospheric balloons. The project was ultimately discontinued earlier this year. A final blog post from the company acknowledged that achieving commercial viability proved more challenging and protracted than initially anticipated.

Before his tenure at Loon, Westgarth led Quintel Solutions, a wireless antennae manufacturer. He also held the position of Vice President at Nortel, a telecommunications giant, and served as Director of Engineering at Bell Mobility.

Expansion and Growth at Starship

Westgarth joins Starship Technologies during a period of significant growth. In early 2020, the company operated a limited fleet of autonomous robots, primarily within select neighborhoods and university campuses.

However, the company recently reported a fourfold increase in deliveries since the onset of the pandemic, reaching a significant landmark of 1.5 million commercial deliveries worldwide.

Vision for the Future of Autonomous Delivery

“Autonomous delivery is fundamentally reshaping logistics, with the potential to affect billions globally,” Westgarth stated in a press release on Tuesday. “For years, the Starship team has been refining both the technology and operational aspects of this service, having pioneered the robot delivery sector in 2014.”

He further expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating his intention to facilitate the company’s expansion across campuses and neighborhoods, thereby extending access to this convenient, secure, and eco-friendly delivery solution to a wider audience.

Leadership Transition

Lex Bayer, Starship’s previous CEO, stepped down in December 2020 after serving nearly three years. Ahti Heinla, a co-founder of the company who previously held the role of interim CEO, will now transition to the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

This change in leadership is expected to further propel Starship Technologies’ innovation and market reach.