First Solar, in its quest to focus on unsubsidized emerging PV markets, has created a new role at the company -- Chief Commercial Officer -- and appointed James Hughes, a former Enron executive, to the role.
SunRun, a solar home financier, appointed a new CFO, Barak Ben-Gal, formerly VP of Finance at Support.com (Nasdaq: SPRT). SunRun claims it installs over $1.5 million in solar every day, completing one rooftop installation every 11 minutes of the business day.
SolarBridge, the microinverter and AC module startup, added Craig Lawrence as VP of Marketing. Lawrence was recently VP at SunEdison's Residential and Light Commercial Business group.
Codexis (NASDAQ: CDXS) had some changes in its CEO and CFO roles last month. Undergoing what looks like a bit of a management shakeup, the maker of industrial enzymes for biofuels, green chemicals, and pharmaceutical product production, appointed Peter Strumph as the firm's interim Chief Executive Officer. Alan Shaw resigned as President and CEO "to pursue other interests." Robert Lawson, the CFO, also left the company last month. Michael Klein, a New York-based analyst with Sidoti & Co., was quoted in Bloomberg as saying, “It makes people question what’s going on internally and behind the scenes.” Codexis stock is trading near historic lows.
Fisker Automotive, the VC-funded extended-range electric vehicle maker, moved co-Founder Henrik Fisker to Executive Chairman of the firm and appointed Tom LaSorda as CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board last month. LaSorda was formerly CEO, President and Vice Chairman of the Chrysler Group and has also held executive positions at General Motors.
Fisker has raised more than $800 million in private equity and has produced a few hundred vehicles amidst recalls, DOE loan issues, and layoffs. Ray Lane, former Chairman of the Board, will take a "lead director role," according to a press release from the firm. Lane also shepherded Next Autoworks (the former V-Vehicle) into its current situation. More details on the company's recent travails can be found here.
Fisker's most recent public relations gaffe is a failure during testing by Consumer Reports (see this Autoblog article for more details).
SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA), the high-efficiency solar panel maker and project developer controlled by French energy firm Total, named Charles Boynton to replace Dennis Arriola as its acting finance head, according to Reuters. Arriola's departure was announced last year. SunPower stock closed at $7.24 on Friday on the Nasdaq.
Moventas, a maker of wind turbine gears, appointed Mikael Laine, SVP of Business Development, to the position of CEO.
SolarTech is partnered with Nova Workforce Development in a program that trains people for greentech job positions that companies actually want to fill in solar, energy efficiency and green building.