iRobot taps former Whirlpool executive Christian Cerda to lead its home robots business

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

Bedford’s iRobot Corp. said Wednesday that Christian Cerda has joined the company to lead its home robot business unit.

Christian Cerda. Photo included with iRobot’s press release.

The company makes several kinds of robots. Its military robots can scout battlefields and detect explosive devices without putting soldiers in harm’s way. But as the Pentagon cuts spending, iRobot is looking to put more emphasis on the robots it designs to perform household chores such as vacuuming or washing floors.

Cerda comes to iRobot from Whirlpool, where he most recently served as general manager of one of the company’s most important sales channels, iRobot said in a press release. He will report directly to Jeff Beck, iRobot’s chief operating officer.

“In 2012, the home robot business had a phenomenal year with revenue increasing 28 percent from the previous year,” Beck said in a statement. “In 2013, the business unit is expected to grow roughly 20 percent through continued adoption of home robots globally. Christian’s extensive international and retail channel experience will be a valuable asset to iRobot’s continued growth through expanded distribution of new products, deeper penetration of existing markets, and further expansion into Latin America and China.”