Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd., manufacturers of silicon ingots and PV modules, have appointed Dr. David N.K. Wang and Professor Rongqiang Cui as Independent Directors, replacing Zhoumiao Gao and Johan van Splunter respectively. In addition to Independent Director, Dr. Wang was also appointed to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Metals and materials provider Elkem has named Helge Aasen as the replacement for Bjørn Wiggen as Managing Director following the latter’s appointment to a new role as President and CEO of SAPA, as well as his appointment to the role of Chairman of Elkem’s Board of Directors. Mr. Wiggen replaces Ole Enger, who was recently appointed as President and CEO of the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC).
First Solar, Inc. have appointed Dennis Fitzgibbons to Vice President, Federal Affairs, where he will report directly to the company’s CEO Mike Ahearn and be in charge of First Solar’s federal government affairs activities in the US.
Joining the Apollo Solar Energy Board are two new Independent Directors, Elliot M. Maza and James M. Lee, who between them bring a wealth of executive management experience to the company. Mr. Maza also assumes the role of chairman of the Company's Audit Committee.
Entech Solar, a leader in concentrating solar energy systems, reported that Chief Technology Officer Mark J. O’Neill will serve on its Board of Directors. He was responsible for the co-founding of ENTECH, Inc. in 1983 with Robert Walters, the current VP of Marketing.
The solar product manufacturing company, Energy Innovations has announced that Joseph Budano will serve as the new CEO while also having a spot on the Board of Directors. He brings over 25 years experience in corporate leadership.
Craig Hunter, former general manager and founder of the thin-film solar business at Applied Materials, Inc. has joined Intermolecular, Inc. as vice president and general manager of solar business.
A 16-year veteran of the renewable energy industry, Jean M. Wilson has joined the SunPower team as Vice President and General Manager of the company’s utilities and power plants. This new role will include running SunPower's North American utility and power plant division, supervision of all project development and overseeing utility and Independent Power Producer partnerships, as well as marketing, EPC and component sales.
HelioVolt has made changes to its executive management team and is searching for a permanent CEO. Board member Ron Bernal has been appointed as interim CEO and Sanjeev Kumar, the former chief financial officer of Energy Conversion Devices, has joined the Austin-based thin-film PV company as CFO; founder B.J. "Billy" Stanbery will continue to play a key role as chief strategy officer and chairman of the board.
Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc., which markets solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies, have appointed David W. Fann as CEO and Gregory N. Bakemann as President, who will also continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer.