Diligent Robotics hires two notable Cruise alumni to its leadership team

Diligent Robotics is enhancing its leadership as it prepares to expand its lineup of humanoid robots designed for hospitals and pharmacies. Based in Austin, Texas, the company announced the appointments of Rashed Haq as chief technology officer and Todd Brugger as chief operating officer. Both executives previously held significant roles at Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors, which ceased operations earlier this year. Haq served as the vice president and head of AI and robotics at Cruise, while Brugger was its COO. Andrea Thomaz, co-founder and CEO of Diligent Robotics, expressed to TechCrunch that this is a pivotal moment for the company to make these strategic hires. Diligent has already deployed around 100 Moxi humanoid robots that assist healthcare facilities with non-patient-facing tasks and is now poised to scale its operations. "We’ve intentionally taken a measured approach over the past couple of years, focusing on operational efficiencies to position ourselves for significant growth moving forward," Thomaz stated. She first connected with Haq and appreciated his extensive expertise in AI and the practical application of innovative algorithms, particularly from his experience with Cruise’s autonomous vehicles. During their discussions, she was introduced to Brugger through a shared contact, recognizing his background in scaling Cruise from zero to hundreds of vehicles on the road as an ideal match for Diligent’s needs. "Todd and Rashed collaborated effectively at Cruise, which made everything fall into place. We were seeking operational leadership, and Todd’s expertise arrived at the perfect time," Thomaz remarked. Both Haq and Brugger conveyed to TechCrunch that joining Diligent felt like a natural progression in their careers. The company is already at the deployment stage, and its technology closely mirrors the work they undertook at Cruise. Haq noted that autonomous vehicles are, at their core, mobile robots under a different name. He emphasized the importance of Diligent’s product, stating, "While many companies may experience initial revenue from trial services that may not last, Diligent’s robots are actively integrated into daily operations, making them essential to the organizations that utilize them. This creates a robust and reliable product offering." Brugger echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the operational challenges and priorities at Diligent that align with those he faced at Cruise. He pointed out a hierarchy of priorities that begins with safety, followed by reliability and product-market fit, which he believes are crucial for successful deployment and scaling. Founded in 2017 by Thomaz and Vivian Chu, Diligent Robotics has placed its Moxi robots in over 25 healthcare networks and has secured more than $90 million in venture funding from prominent firms such as Tiger Global, True Ventures, and Canaan Partners.