Manufacturer of thin-film photovoltaic modules Abound Solar has named Thomas Tiller as CEO. Having served Polaris Industries as CEO for nine years, he will officially take up his position on January 18, 2010. Doug Schatz, current interim CEO for the company, will then become chairman of the board.
First Solar has appointed TK Kallenbach executive vice president of marketing and product management. Kallenbach previously worked for Honeywell Aerospace (once Allied Signal) where he played roles in the company's strategic planning, marketing communications and product management. Kallenbach joined the company in 1979 and worked in a number of senior leadership positions prior to becoming vice president of marketing and product management.
Didier Jeannelle has been named the new managing director of Sputnik Engineering's French subsidiary Sputnik Engineering France S.A.R.L. Jeannelle will consolidate Sputnik's presence in France, starting with a move into a larger space and an increase in staff.
Hans-Georg Schweikardt has been announced the new Head of Product Management at Sputnik Engineering's headquarters in Biel. Employed with the Swiss solar inverter manufacturer's German branch since 2004, Schweikardt has worked for the company as both a sales engineer and the head of sales.
Solar Power, Inc. has appointed finance and investment veteran Francis Chen to the board of directors. Mr. Chen, vice chairman with WI Harper Group, brings a wealth of management and private investment experience to the board as the company heads into a period of development. The WI Harper group manages over $400 million in invested capital.
Shortly after eSolar announced its establishment of operations in South Africa and the Sierra SunTower in Southern California, they have now recruited George (Chip) Hambro, the retried COO of First Solar, to its board of directors. Hambro helped First Solar achieve a successful IPO, increase its global reach and focus its R&D to advance the thin-film technology and eSolar now looks forward to Hambro bringing his talent to their board.
MiaSolé has appointed Kevin Eassa as the new vice president for manufacturing and operations. Eassa brings over 26 years of manufacturing experience, specifically in the disc drive industry with Seagate Technology. While at Seagate he oversaw the rapid global expansion of the company’s manufacturing and operations in five countries and three continents.
Continuing its trend for this year to expand its European administration, Suntech Power has added to its management board with the appointment of four new senior executives. David Hogg is head of Suntech Europe, Vedat Gurgeli is VP of Sales Europe, Frank Weber is Marketing Director of Europe and Carl von Braun is Director of Project Finance Europe.
Acro Energy Technologies released that Steve Vella will be the company’s new director of business development. Vella will leave the post of COO to immediately start his new director position and focus his efforts, among others, on furthering the national expansion of Acro.
Tom Gutierrez was elected as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors for GT Solar. He follows Tom Zarrella who served in the same positions for GT since 2007. The management changes became effective October 28.
