Wandercraft Taps Permobil CEO for Board, Signals Global Market Push

PARIS and NEW YORK – January 28, 2026

Wandercraft, a robotics company at the forefront of self-balancing technology, has appointed Chuck Witkowski, CEO of global assistive mobility leader Permobil, to its Board of Directors. The move signals a critical inflection point for the Paris-based firm as it pivots from a decade of breakthrough research and development to an aggressive new phase of global commercialization.

The appointment comes as Wandercraft prepares for the regulatory submission and anticipated 2026 market launch of Eve, its highly anticipated self-balancing personal exoskeleton designed to restore upright mobility for individuals in their daily lives. Witkowski's addition to the board is seen by industry observers as a clear strategic maneuver to leverage his deep expertise in scaling medical device companies and navigating the complex international healthcare landscape.

“As Wandercraft enters a new phase – moving from technical achievements in the lab to scaling deployment of robotics for the real world – Chuck brings exactly the experience we need,” said Matthieu Masselin, Co-Founder and CEO of Wandercraft. “He’s an innovator and understands what it takes to navigate complex healthcare systems and grow businesses that are vital to humans on a global scale.”

From Lab to Global Market

Chuck Witkowski brings over two decades of leadership experience, marked by a consistent track record of growing and scaling companies at the intersection of medical technology and human need. Since joining Permobil in 2019, he has risen from President of the Americas to Group CEO, overseeing a global team of 2,000. Under his leadership, Permobil, which is backed by Investor AB, has reportedly seen tremendous growth, expanding its market footprint and enhancing profitability by improving operational efficiency. His tenure has been characterized by a focus on making advanced assistive technologies more accessible, exemplified by a $15.5 million expansion in Tennessee in 2022 aimed at drastically reducing lead times for customized wheelchairs.

Before Permobil, Witkowski was the founding CEO of Hubble Telemedical, a company he successfully built and sold to Hillrom, now part of Baxter. He then stayed on as a corporate vice president, building out their high-growth vision care division. This background in founding, scaling, and integrating innovative medical technology companies in highly regulated markets is precisely the skillset Wandercraft requires as it transitions from a technology-first to a market-first organization.

“Chuck understands what it takes to move from breakthrough technology to global business, and that is precisely the capability this moment demands,” said Eli Daivadi, Managing Director at Quadrant Management Inc. and a member of Wandercraft’s Board. “Adding a leader who has built and scaled human-critical businesses signals how serious the company is about this next stage.”

The Quest for Everyday Mobility with 'Eve'

At the heart of Wandercraft's commercial ambitions is Eve, which the company bills as the world's first self-balancing personal exoskeleton. Unlike many existing rehabilitation devices that require crutches or walkers for stability, Eve is designed to be hands-free, using sophisticated AI-powered algorithms to maintain balance and enable a natural walking motion. The goal is ambitious: to provide a viable alternative to the wheelchair for daily life.

The technology has been refined through billions of simulations and millions of real-world steps taken with its predecessor, the Atalante X, a clinical exoskeleton already in use at over 100 rehabilitation centers worldwide. Wandercraft has a proven history of navigating stringent regulatory environments, having secured multiple FDA clearances for Atalante X. These clearances have progressively expanded its use for rehabilitation in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) from levels C4 to L5, stroke, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Eve is currently undergoing clinical trials in the United States at prestigious institutions like the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx and the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Early results presented in May 2025 were highly promising, showing a 100% median success rate for users with high-level SCIs performing critical mobility tasks in simulated home and community environments after just five training sessions. The studies also reported high user confidence and excellent usability for caregivers, bolstering the case for Eve’s real-world viability.

A Dual-Front Strategy in Robotics

While Eve represents its flagship medical device, Wandercraft's strategy extends beyond healthcare into industrial automation. In 2025, the company unveiled Calvin-40, a strong, voice-controlled humanoid robot designed for physically demanding tasks in manufacturing environments. This diversification is powered by a strategic partnership with Renault Group, which not only became a minority shareholder but also Calvin-40's first customer.

This dual-market approach is built upon Wandercraft's unified robotics platform. The same core technology that allows a person with paralysis to walk is being adapted to help a factory worker lift heavy parts, preventing musculoskeletal injuries. The collaboration with Renault is critical, providing not just capital but invaluable expertise in industrial-scale manufacturing—a key competency needed to cost-effectively produce both the Calvin series and the Eve exoskeleton for a global audience.

By leveraging its core innovations across both medical and industrial sectors, Wandercraft is positioning itself as a versatile robotics powerhouse, capable of addressing diverse market needs with a synergistic technology base.

As the company stands at this pivotal juncture, the new board appointment underscores a focused commitment to execution. Witkowski himself expressed his enthusiasm for the company's trajectory and its potential for creating a lasting human impact.

“Wandercraft is bringing breakthrough technology into the real world,” said Witkowski. “I’m excited to join at a pivotal moment and work with the team, first with Eve, and then across the company’s broader robotics platform to deliver products with lasting impact.”