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Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national organisation representing the advanced energy industry, welcomed Steve Chadima as its new senior vice president of communications and director of California Initiatives.

Thermal processing equipment specialist BTU International has selected Peter Tallian to serve in its newly minted chief operating officer position, effective immediately.

Continued restructuring at Applied Materials as it struggles to resize its solar business has led to senior executives Mark Pinto and Tom Edman leaving the company as its EES and Display divisions are merged.

Microinverter developer Enphase Energy has hired several new executives to support the company's global growth and focus on the design, manufacture and support of its products.

Adept Technology, which makes robotics equipment for the solar and other markets, has appointed Michael Schradle as its new Chief Financial Officer.

Philip Comberg was approved by the supervisory board of Conergy to stay with the company as CEO for three years, effective 1 January 2013.

Continuing to restructure the company in hope of surviving the solar shakeout, major PV equipment specialist centrotherm photovoltaics has made sweeping changes to its senior management with the notable fall of its enigmatic CTO, Dr. Peter Fath. Current CEO, Robert M. Hartung will also step down from his position, while Peter Augustin will become responsible for core solar cell and module business, amongst other management changes.

As part its senior management restructuring process, John Lefebvre, President of Suntech America has left the company, while E.L. “Mick” McDaniel, previously Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Suntech America, has assumed the newly introduced title of Managing Director for Suntech America. As with other recent changes, McDaniel will report directly to CEO David King.

South Coast Solar advised that its CEO, Tucker Crawford, has stepped down in order to work full-time as president of the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association (GSREIA). The group is specifically dedicated to expanding the use of solar power in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

According to informed sources close to those involved, Jerry Stokes, president of Suntech Europe has agreed a settlement with senior management of Suntech Power Holdings to leave the company. Stokes joined the company in 2006. Suntech's newly appointed chief executive officer, David King recently set about restructuring senior management roles with the exit of Andrew Beebe, Suntech’s chief commercial officer and regional heads reporting directly to King.