Hailed as a decisive move in terms of the company’s plans for the region, Phoenix Solar has formed its North American executive leadership team, working from its headquarters at the Bishop Ranch office park in San Ramon, California. Stepping into the role of president and CEO is Paul J. Caudill, who brings over 30 years’ power generation and industry experience to the company.
Phoenix Solar AG first made strides into the North American market via its Phoenix Solar, Inc. subsidiary in August 2010. This new leadership team, some of the key roles of which are outlined below, is a step in the company’s market expansion.
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Paul J. Caudill, former head of Global Operations for an unnamed solar company, takes the helm as president and CEO. With over 30 years’ experience in commercial (originally nuclear) power generation, he began his career in project management at Bechtel Power Corporation. He has an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in business and public management from the University of Arizona.
As COO, Peter Beucke, a licensed architect, real estate broker and contractor, will steer the company’s North American development and strategy as it aims to expand its reach. With over 25 years of design, engineering, and construction experience, Beucke served as director of Global Design Engineering for another unnamed solar company. He has a B.Sc. degree in design from Arizona State University’s College of Architecture.
Bryan Meier joins Phoenix Solar from Verasun Energy Corp. to take the role of CFO. In his previous role, he served as vice president of finance and then CFO, and brings over 23 years of finance-related experience to the role. A certified public accountant (CPA), he has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting and finance from the University of Missouri in St. Louis.
Arra Yerganian joins the company as chief sales officer, having held several leadership roles in sales, marketing and general management over the course of a 25-year career. He was a senior executive at two of the nation’s largest homebuilders and president of both a business marketing solutions firm and a web-based consumer marketplace. Arra has a B.Sc. degree in international marketing & operations management from Boston University, and upon graduation earned the Scarlet Key distinction for academic excellence and campus leadership. He also completed an Executive Education Program in Strategic Marketing Management at Harvard Business School.
Bringing over 22 years of corporate marketing experience to the role of chief marketing officer, Les A. Lifter’s previous employ was as vice president of strategic marketing for Lennar. He holds an M.B.A. in marketing & international business from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in management from Emory University.
Mr. Caudill commented: “We are in the enviable position of being able to leverage Phoenix Solar's well-established international reputation, proven project engineering expertise and proprietary operations and maintenance technology for the benefit of solar customers operating in the U.S. and Canada.”
