Markets & Finance

Tore Torvund has been appointed as Executive Vice President of the REC Group to lead REC Silicon’s operations. He will also serve as a member of the REC Group Management Team.

Howard Berke, executive chairman and cofounder of organic photovoltaics company Konarka, has joined the board of directors of the Solar Electric Industries Association (SEIA). The move comes after Berke completed a four-year stint on the board of the American Council on Renewable Energy.

Michael Sullivan, a former investor relations manager for Intel Corp., has taken up a role as Vice President of Investor Relations with Applied Materials, Inc. He brings more that 16 years of experience with Intel, including management roles in Corporate Media and Public Relations to Applied. The new role will see him hold responsibility for the company’s relationships with investors, financial analysts and the financial community. Mr. Sullivan has a B.A. degree from San Jose State University and an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.

An industry analyst specializing in the renewable energy and semiconductor materials sectors, Ming Yang’s addition to the JA Solar team will see him take up the post of vice president of business development and corporate communications. He will oversee investor and public relations, business development, strategic marketing and market assessment for the company.

Joining SVTC Technologies as CEO, Joseph R. Bronson, an industry veteran with over twenty years’ experience, replaces Dave Bergeron at the helm of the R&D facility. Mr. Bergeron will remain with the company in the role of CTO, focussing his efforts on the company’s technical products and services. Mr. Bronson brings experience from companies such as Applied Materials and FormFactor.

As of March 10th, 2009, Applied Materials’ Chairman of over 20 years will step down from the chair and will be replaced by company CEO Mike Splinter. James C. Morgan (pictured), an Applied Materials employee since 1976 and holder of the role of CEO from 1977 to 2003, will assume the role of Chairman Emeritus and will not run for re-election as company chairman, as he has reached the customary Board retirement age of 70.

The company formerly known as WorldWater & Solar Technologies has changed its name to Entech Solar. WorldWater & Solar Technologies acquired ENTECH, Inc. in January 2008 and now aims to shift focus to the manufacture of concentrating energy systems such as its ThermaVolt solar system. Entech has also announced the appointment of David Gelbaum (pictured) as Chairman of its Board of Directors, replacing Quentin Kelly, company founder, who resigned as an employee and director of the company with effect from January 7th, 2009.

Dynamic Engineering, Inc., high purity chemical process technology supplier to the polysilicon industry, has named Joe Ausikaitis as its new CEO and President. Ausikaitis replaces company founder Lee Kennedy, who passed away in November last year. Mr. Ausikaitis brings over 30 years of process technology and chemical management experience to the company.

Thin-film solar PV manufacturer Odersun has appointed former NXP Semiconductors exec Hein van der Zeeuw as its new CEO. Van der Zeeuw has 26 years of experience in the electronic components and semiconductor industry and is a former member of the board of management of Philips spin-out NXP, which he resigned from in July,  2008 after serving as executive VP of operations.

Solar Fabrik has named semiconductor industy veteran Günter Weinberger to replace Christoph Paradeis as the company's CEO, effective Dec. 31. Weinberger comes to the solar module and systems manufacturer from Sandbridge Technologies, where he was president/CEO.