Daniel Friedmann took over last week, said Sanctuary communications head Katie Staeger. He has been a board member of the Vancouver-based firm since last June and chair since November. Friedmann replaces James Wells, who is leaving Sanctuary. (The Logic)

Talking point: Founded in 2018, Sanctuary develops humanoid robots that can work in industrial settings and says its raised over $140 million. The field is hot right now, with U.S. firms like Figure and Agility Robotics landing major financing and clients, while Chinese startups produce increasingly capable machines. Sanctuary has experienced significant recent leadership turnover. Co-founder Suzanne Gildert left in April 2024, and the board pushed out founding CEO Geordie Rose that November. Under Wells, who has a background in commercialization, the 140-person firm sought more funding; it raised an undisclosed sum from Japanese chemical firm Zeon last month. New boss Friedmann previously made a similar chair-to-CEO switch at Squamish, B.C.-based Carbon Engineering, then sold the direct-air-capture firm to strategic investor Occidental Petroleum in August 2023 for US$1.1-billion. Before that, he led MDA for over two decades.