Markets & Finance

Oerlikon Solar’s sales efforts are to be led by Chris Smith, formerlyof Applied Materials, who has been named as head of Sales and CustomerSupport for the thin-film solar equipment manufacturer.  Smith brings20 years of management and sales experience to the role, 12 of whichwere spent with Applied Materials.

Barry Honig, a well-known venture capital investor and advisor, hasjoined the newly-established Octillion Advisory Board, announcedNicholas Cucinelli, President and CEO.  Mr. Honig, whose main areas ofexpertise are corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, hasassisted many companies in going public and with listings on NASDAQ

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., of which United Solar Ovonic is awholly-owned subsidiary, has announced company Chairman Robert C.Stempel’s (pictured) intention to retire from the role at the end ofthe year. His retirement will be made effective at the company’s annualstockholders’ meeting on December 11th.

Solar module manufacturer SOLON AG has added to its executive team withthe appointment of Dr. Gero Wiese as COO, bringing the number ofcompany directors to three. Company CEO Thomas Krupke and CTO Dr. LarsPodlowski make up the other member of the company’s board.

Trina Solar has announced two new executive appointments to its team.Anthony Chia joins the company as Vice President of quality, while DaveSeburn has been named as Vice President of polysilicon.

A number of key appointments and promotions were announced for Suntechrecently, including appointments to Chief Strategy Officer, InvestmentDirector and Senior Director of Business Development for the U.S. Specific appointments are set out below.

SunPower’s Global Quality and Customer Satisfaction division hasreceived a new Vice President in the form of Surinder Bedi, announcedcompany CEO Tom Werner (pictured).  This role will see him implementand drive the company’s improvement and quality programs and overseeingcustomer services.

Ex-Nanometrics Vice President of advanced technology Dr. Steven G.Hummel has been enlisted to the PV Powered team as vice president ofengineering.  His new role will see him focus specifically on productdevelopment for the solar solutions company.

HelioVolt Corporation CEO Dr. B.J. Stanbery (pictured) has announcedthe appointment of two new vice presidents in preparation for thecompany’s expansion plans. Ex-Applied Materials managing director ofmaterials Larry Peruffo is set to take up the role of VP of HelioVolt’ssupply chain, while Essilor Laboratories’ former VP of operations andtechnology, David Bowen, has been named as VP of manufacturingoperations.