SAN FRANCISCO – Today, Bright Machines, an innovator in intelligent, software-defined manufacturing, announced that Gayle Sheppard will transition from co-CEO to Chief Executive Officer. A veteran technology executive with broad experience in business, technology, and leadership, Gayle will lead Bright Machines’ development of intelligent, software-driven automation solutions that are changing how and where products are manufactured. Previously she held leadership positions at Microsoft and Intel. As CEO, she will succeed Lior Susan, who will transition to Executive Chairman of Bright Machines and remain on its Board of Directors.

“Gayle combines a track record as a dynamic executive with a background in and a tremendous passion for software-driven businesses,” said Lior Susan, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Bright Machines. “She is a champion of the company’s high-performance culture and has an extraordinary ability to inspire and connect with customers, partners, and employees. Gayle’s seasoned guidance will help Bright Machines have the right people, processes, and systems to accommodate long-term growth and profitability.”

With over 30 years of experience, Gayle joins Bright Machines from Microsoft, where she led digital strategy and execution as the Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Asia. Prior to this role, Gayle served as Corporate Vice President and Head of Global Expansion and Transformation for Microsoft Azure, a Fortune 50 company with over $143 billion in sales. She also founded and served as CEO of Saffron AI Group, later acquired by Intel, where she focused on business innovation and cloud-centric digital capabilities in manufacturing, financial services, and government industries.

In addition to sitting on the Board of Directors for Bright Machines, Gayle serves on the Board of Directors of Nutanix, a leader in Hybrid Cloud solutions, and is a Board Advisor to startups NovaSignal, a medical AI company, and AIXI Inc., an industrial AI company. She is also a Board Advisor to Sonder Connect, a not-for-profit organization that empowers female founders worldwide. Additionally, she advises women in data science, engineering and leadership and is a passionate advocate for using technology to eliminate child trafficking.

“After serving as co-CEO with Lior for the past three months, I’m proud to step into the CEO role to lead the company on its journey to fundamentally reshape how and where products are made across the global economy,” said Gayle Sheppard, CEO of Bright Machines. “Witnessing how the company has navigated the complexities of today’s market while cementing its place as a leader with some of the biggest global brands has been inspiring. I am laser-focused on ensuring our customers, technology, and company are well-equipped to meet the needs of modern industry. I look forward to working with, learning from, and growing the company with the outstanding team at Bright Machines.”

“On behalf of the board, we thank Lior for his unparalleled commitment and leadership at Bright Machines during his time as CEO,” said Steve Luczo, Bright Machines Board Member and Managing Partner at Crosspoint Capital Partners. “As Bright Machines pushes deeper into expansive solutions, I know the company will undoubtedly benefit from Gayle’s vision and passion for building high growth companies.”

Bright Machines is unlocking the full potential of factory automation, allowing its customers to optimize labor costs, overcome worker shortage constraints, and see improvements in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). In 2022, investors recognized Bright Machines’ growth and validated its mission by investing $100 million in the company through a Series B funding round.

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