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.
Sungevity revealed that over the past three months it has welcomed David Dunlap, COO, Steve Atherton, CTO, Walter Conroy, general counsel and Liz Ludwig, VP of corporate business development to its executive management team. Dunlap’s newly created COO position manages the company’s customer-facing operation functions with Dunlap coming to Sungevity after serving as executive VP of operations and client services at Inside Track, an educational services company.
Solon Energy announced that Anjan Turlapati, co-founder or Microsol, will be replacing Stefan Säuberlich as the company’s CEO. Säuberlich is said to be changing his focus to new tasks, but the company assured that he will remain on staff in a consultant position for the coming months.
Dow Corning, a specialist in silicon-based solar products based in the US, has named Eric Peeters as vice president of its electronic solutions business taking over from James Helwick, who has led Dow Corning’s electronics business since 2010. His appointment became effective on September 1.
In response to increased losses and deepening negative margins, Trina Solar has implemented a number of changes to its management structure in a bid to “increase the responsiveness and effectiveness of its revenue-based operations”. As a result, its operations are now divided into four regions, each with a regional leader which will report to Jifan Gao, chairman and CEO of Trina Solar.
Solar modules supplier Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing USA has announced the resignation of the company’s director Michael O’Connor effective June 28, 2012, as well as the departure of Jeff Watson.
