Locus Robotics Strengthens Leadership Team to Accelerate Growth and Market Leadership
WILMINGTON, Mass.--( BUSINESS WIRE)-- Locus Robotics, the leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation, today announced the appointments of Alan McDonald as Vice President of Industry Solutions and Ashley Wallace Jones as Vice President of Communications and Digital Experience. Together, these appointments bolster the company’s ability to scale its market leadership, deepen customer and industry engagement, and accelerate the next era of AI-driven warehouse automation.
Alan McDonald Joins as Vice President of Industry Solutions
McDonald brings more than 30 years of leadership across logistics, supply chain, and material handling to Locus Robotics. He joins from GXO Logistics, where he served as Vice President of Warehouse Design, following nearly a decade at GEODIS in senior leadership roles, most recently as Vice President of Continuous Improvement.
Notably, McDonald was a key advocate for Locus Robotics’ technology during his time at GEODIS, where he helped drive the adoption and scale of the platform within complex operational environments.
“I’ve spent my career on the other side of the table, evaluating, implementing, and scaling automation in high-performance environments, and what stood out about Locus Robotics is its ability to solve real operational challenges in live environments, not just in theory,” said Alan McDonald, Vice President of Industry Solutions at Locus Robotics. “Having driven adoption as a customer, I bring a firsthand understanding of the pressures our customers face and a strong conviction in how Locus Robotics can help them scale with greater operational confidence.”
In his new role, McDonald will focus on advancing the company’s industry positioning, accelerating business development, and strengthening sales execution. His experience spans both operational leadership and strategic transformation, enabling him to connect automation capabilities directly to measurable business outcomes.
“Alan has been on the front lines of warehouse transformation and understands how to translate automation into real business value,” said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “His previous experience, credibility with customers, and ability to engage at both the executive and operational levels will be critical as we pursue larger, more complex opportunities and continue scaling our global business.”
McDonald holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management.
Ashley Wallace Jones Appointed Vice President of Communications and Digital Experience
Jones brings 20 years of integrated marketing expertise and more than a decade of communications experience working with high-growth B2B technology companies across AI, enterprise automation, SaaS, and cybersecurity. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Integrated Marketing at PAN Communications, where she led integrated content strategy and digital programs for global enterprise clients, while also overseeing the agency’s content marketing practice and AI visibility efforts.
“Marketing and communications are central to how we scale our business and tell the story of our technology,” said Faulk. “Ashley brings an exceptional combination of creativity, strategic depth, and executional rigor. Her ability to unify messaging across channels and build strong alignment across teams will play a critical role in how we elevate the Locus Robotics brand and engage with customers, partners, and investors worldwide.”
As Locus Robotics scales its global market leadership in AI-driven warehouse automation, Jones will lead corporate communications, brand strategy, and the company’s digital experience.
“Locus Robotics is at a defining moment in its growth. Beyond the strength of its technology, what drew me here is the opportunity to help tell a bigger, more differentiated story about how intelligent automation is transforming the way the world works,” said Ashley Wallace Jones, Vice President of Communications and Digital Experience at Locus Robotics. “There’s an incredible foundation already in place, and I’m excited to partner with the team to elevate how we bring the brand to market.”
Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications from Endicott College.
These appointments come as the company readies the commercial availability of major advances in Physical AI and autonomous fulfillment, strengthening Locus Robotics’ market position and supporting continued global growth.
About Locus Robotics
Locus Robotics is the leader in Flexibility-First Warehouse Automation, delivering Operational Confidence to warehouse operators navigating an environment defined by constant uncertainty. Locus Robotics enables organizations to plan, execute, and adapt across volume volatility, labor variability, and evolving order profiles.
Powered by the LocusONE platform, Locus Robotics orchestrates fulfillment workflows across picking, replenishment, sorting, and pack-out through a unified system of robotics, orchestration, and applied AI. The platform provides predictive visibility, adaptive decision-making, and elastic execution—giving operations leaders clear insight into capacity, throughput, and risk without fixed infrastructure or disruptive facility redesigns.
Trusted by more than 150 retail, healthcare, 3PL, and industrial brands across 350+ sites worldwide, Locus Robotics supports operations at every stage of the automation journey. Delivered through an industry-first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, Locus Robotics enables performance to evolve as operational needs change.