Gasgoo Munich- MagicLab announced a sweeping management reshuffle on March 6, restructuring its leadership across R&D, data infrastructure, core hardware, and global markets. The company said the move is designed to navigate the inflection point where embodied AI transitions from concept to scale, bolstering its core leadership to deepen R&D, data systems, and global commercialization capabilities.
According to the announcement, the new appointments span several key figures in technology and commercial leadership:
Chen Chunyu remains co-founder and CTO. A veteran of the industry with over a decade of R&D and management experience, Chen trained under China's first generation of humanoid robotics researchers and witnessed the sector's evolution from zero to one. Since joining MagicLab in January 2025, he has spearheaded the company's technical architecture and core product development, leading teams through the R&D and iteration of both humanoid and quadruped robots while driving mass production and delivery.
Zhang Tao takes the helm as head of embodied models and algorithm VP. He is tasked with developing the company's large embodied AI models and upgrading the technical architecture to continuously advance robotic intelligence. Zhang holds a Ph.D. from Zhejiang University and previously served as algorithm VP at Alibaba and NIO.
Wu Zhengfang has been named head of the embodied data platform. Her mandate includes building an end-to-end data pipeline and managing the full lifecycle—from data collection and model deployment to robot implementation. Wu is a former algorithm expert at Alibaba DAMO Academy and Huawei Cloud, and previously led AI platform initiatives at Zongmu Technology and Anker's data closed-loop platform.
Gao Chunchao becomes head of the joint module division, focusing on optimizing self-developed actuators and establishing mass production systems. Gao previously led teams at Dreame Technology to develop and mass-produce high-speed motors ranging from 100,000 to 180,000 rpm, and he built Dreame's motor R&D team across its entire product line. His portfolio spans robot joint servos, e-scooters, floor cleaners, vacuum cleaners, and hair dryers. Notably, he contributed to the joint motor development for Xiaomi's first-generation CyberDog, achieving thousand-unit production.
Li Kedi assumes the role of head of developer ecosystem, responsible for optimizing secondary development features for the company's humanoid and quadruped products to support commercial rollout. A Zhejiang University graduate, Li previously managed health product R&D and teams at Huawei and OPPO. In robotics, he led a team that delivered two generations of quadruped robot dog prototypes within six months, moving them to small-batch production.
Yang Ke is appointed head of commercialization for the China market, overseeing domestic business expansion and industry solutions. Yang brings experience from Global 500 giants and domestic tech heavyweights, including Huawei, Oracle, and SAP. He specializes in delivering intelligent product solutions at scale in the ToG and ToB sectors, with a strong track record in delivery and after-sales management.
Tan Yongzhou becomes head of international market commercialization, leading the construction of the global sales network and service system. Tan's background includes stints at UBTECH and ZTE. During his time at UBTECH, he successfully expanded overseas operations across more than 50 countries, covering Latin America, Europe, the CIS, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
Separately, MagicLab appointed Li Xiang, a professor and doctoral supervisor at Tsinghua University, as chief scientist. He will focus on the practical application of dexterous hands, with his research centered on multi-agent systems, intelligent robotic manipulation, and human-robot interaction.
Image source: MagicLab
The shake-up follows reports that founder and CEO Wu Changzheng had stepped down. MagicLab subsequently confirmed that Wu officially departed at the end of February.
Crucially, the announcement did not name a replacement for the CEO role, a silence likely to fuel further speculation about the company's future strategic direction and management stability.
Yet, the collective pedigree of the new executive team suggests a deliberate strategy. The lineup spans critical areas—R&D, data platforms, core components, ecosystem building, and market expansion—and many members bring experience from tech giants like Alibaba, Huawei, NIO, and UBTech, or are scholars deeply rooted in robotics and AI. This signals MagicLab's determination to fortify its core technology and commercialization capabilities, aiming to sustain its momentum in the robotics race through a stronger talent bench.
