SMA Solar’s CEO suddenly steps down and plans departure at year-end

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The long-standing CEO of major PV inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technology, Pierre-Pascal Urbon has suddenly stepped down from his executive role and plans to leave the company altogether at the end of December, 2018.
 
SMA Solar said that Urbon had requested to resign from the CEO and Management Board positions as well as leave the company at year-end. Urbon had been a member of the Management Board since 2006 and CEO since 2011.

SMA Solar did not say why Urbon was stepping down and leaving the company. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The company recently revised down its full-year revenue and profit guidance, blaming the impact of China’s 531 New Deal on project demand and falling product prices, due to overcapacity. The company was also planning a further round of restructuring to counter the change in business conditions.

Overall, SMA Solar’s executive team has been downsized, with Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Reinert replacing Urbon immediately as the new CEO as well as being responsible for Sales and Service in addition to Technology and Operations. Ulrich Hadding will continue to be responsible for Finance, Human Resources and Legal Affairs but will also assume responsibility for Investor Relations.

SMA Solar’s executive team has been downsized, with Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Reinert replacing Urbon immediately as the new CEO as well as being responsible for Sales and Service in addition to Technology and Operations. Image: SMA Solar

Peter Drews, SMA founder and member of the Supervisory Board, adds: “Pierre-Pascal Urbon has played a major role in the successful IPO, the company acquisitions of recent years and the strategic reorientation, thus contributing to SMA's strong strategic and financial position. The SMA founders thank him for his very good performance.”

10 March 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

July 3, 2025
Malaysian engineering and infrastructure giant Gamuda has expanded its presence in the Australian renewables sector by partnering with Tasmanian landowners to build a 1.2GW portfolio, which includes solar PV.
Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
July 2, 2025
Indigenous-led renewable energy company Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has submitted plans for a hybrid wind and solar PV renewable energy project to the Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
July 2, 2025
Robotics company Luminous has received AU$4.9 million (US$3.2 million) via Australia’s Solar ScaleUp Challenge to support deploying its ‘LUMI’ technology at utility-scale solar PV power plants.
July 1, 2025
French private equity firm Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund (ACEEF) has bought 117 solar PV plants, worth 116MW of total capacity in several locations in Italy.
July 1, 2025
A five-year research initiative is underway in Australia to test the viability of floating solar systems on irrigation dams.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK