July 7, 2020 – Magic Leap has today announced the appointment of Peggy Johnson as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2020. In her new role, Johnson will draw on more than 30 years of experience as a veteran tech executive, and comes from her role as Executive Vice President of Business Development at Microsoft to accelerate Magic Leap’s growth and bring the company’s enterprise solutions to market.
“Since its founding in 2011, Magic Leap has pioneered the field of spatial computing, and I have long admired the relentless efforts and accomplishments of this exceptional team. Magic Leap’s technological foundation is undeniable, and there is no question that has the potential to shape the future of XR and computing,” said Johnson.
“As CEO, I look forward to strategically building enduring relationships that connect Magic Leap’s game-changing technology and pipeline to the wide-ranging digital needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries”. She added, “It is with great pride and sincere appreciation to the Magic Leap Board, Rony and the entire team, as well as to Satya Nadella at Microsoft, that I assume the role of leading this visionary business into the future.”
Prior to joining Microsoft in 2014, Johnson spent 24 years at Qualcomm, where she held various leadership positions, and served as a member of Qualcomm’s Executive Committee. Today, she serves on the Board of Directors of BlackRock, Inc., and has been recognized by multiple organizations, including as Business Insider’s “#1 Most Powerful Female Engineer in 2017,” one of Silicon Republic’s “40 Powerful Women Leading Tech Around the World” and a 2013 Hall of Fame inductee by Women in Technology International.
Rony Abovitz, Founder and Magic Leap’s first Chief Executive Officer, said: “As a company that has been a leader in transforming what will become the next era of computing, we have been fortunate to have a number of extremely qualified candidates express interest in the position of CEO. However, as soon as Peggy raised her hand there was no question in my mind, or the Board’s, that she was absolutely the best person to lead this company into the future. As Magic Leap drives towards commercializing spatial computing for enterprise, I can’t think of a better and more capable leader than Peggy Johnson to carry our mission forward.”
Abovitz added, “We have come a long way, from starting up in my garage to creating a new medium and redefining the future of computing. Now, under Peggy, who brings with her to Magic Leap three decades of experience identifying and executing strategic partnerships at the highest levels of business, Magic Leap can take another giant step forward in our journey.” He continued, “On behalf of the Magic Leap Board, I want to thank our investors for their continued support and partnership. We have strong confidence and belief in Peggy’s ability to lead Magic Leap forward as the Company focuses on commercial success.”
Magic Leap states that in addition to her technical background as an electrical engineer, Johnson brings to the company a track record of leading and growing businesses, building strategic partnerships and executing successful transactions. According to Magic Leap, in her recent role at Microsoft, Johnson oversaw the development, collaboration, and growth of Microsoft’s relationships with external partners and enterprises of all sizes around the world. She also led Microsoft’s corporate venture fund, M12, where she identified strategic investment opportunities and worked closely with companies to unlock value and drive growth.
Image credit: Microsoft
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Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.