In a short press release that gave no clue as to the reason for the executive change at Oerlikon Solar, Jeannine Sargent has left the company with immediate effect, replaced by Dr. Jürg Henz, Senior Manager of the Oerlikon Group and head of the business unit Oerlikon Solar Thin Film. Dr. Henz now becomes interim CEO.
In a new position created by Oerlikon in September, 2007 Sargent was recruited as CEO to oversee the amalgamation of all solar related activities of the Oerlikon Group under Oerlikon Solar. Her tenure in the position and at the company lasted just over 2 years.
As recently as the EU PVSEC event in Hamburg, whereby PV-Tech interviewed Sargent, no indication was given of any immediate changes planned to her role or position at the company.
In late October, 2009 Oerlikon Solar reported that it expected sales in 2010 to be flat with expected sales in 2009. Oerlikon Solar’s sales for the first 9-months of this year reached CHF 432 million. Sales reached CHF 628 million in 2008, indicating 3 years of reasonably static growth for the division.
