- Magic Leap announced that it has appointed Peggy Johnson as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2020.
Magic Leap announced that it has appointed Peggy Johnson — who is a veteran tech executive and Executive Vice President of Business Development at Microsoft — as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2020. In this role, Johnson will draw on over 30 years of experience at the highest levels of technology and business for accelerating Magic Leap’s growth and bringing transformative enterprise solutions to market.
Along with her technical background as an electrical engineer, Johnson brings to Magic Leap a proven track record of leading and growing businesses, building strategic partnerships, and executing successful transactions. And 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. Plus she also led Microsoft’s corporate venture fund M12 where she identified compelling strategic investment opportunities and worked closely with companies to unlock value and drive growth.
Before 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. And now Johnson serves on the Board of Directors of BlackRock and she is on the advisory board for the nonprofit Huntington’s Disease Society of America San Diego Chapter. .
Key Quotes:
“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.”
“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. 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.”
-Peggy Johnson
“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.”
“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. 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.”
-Rony Abovitz, Founder and Magic Leap’s first Chief Executive Officer of Magic Leap
