The Solar Energy Industries Association has let go of Executive Vice President and counsel Tom Kimbis and VP of Federal Affairs Christopher Mansour. Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA’s president and CEO, told SolarWakeup that revisions to the organization’s strategic vision required a realignment of resources, although Mansour would be replaced.
“We have nothing but positive things to say about Tom and Christopher, and we wish them well in the future endeavors,” Hopper told SolarWakeup. “Their service to SEIA is well known, and we couldn’t have accomplished what we have without them.”
With the Section 201 solar trade case finished for now, SEIA is shifting priorities and resources to other issues, including state policy battles and regional transmission grid issues.
“I’m looking forward to the next great leadership experience in renewable energy. It’s been 18 years working in solar in renewables from Washiington, D.C. I am considering all the possibilities available and targeting an opportunity that allows me to use my creativity, leadership and stakeholder engagement expertise,” Tom Kimbis, who previously served as SEIA's interim CEO, told Greentech Media. “It’s been an incredible ride at both Dept. of Energy and SEIA, one that’s prepared me step up to meet the next challenge.”
SEIA also just added PetersenDean to its board of directors.
Nick Stavropoulos has announced his retirement from the role of president and COO of PG&E at the end of September. He will also be leaving the board of directors. The board has not announced a succession plan.
Former NextLight/First Solar alums have set up shop as Candela Renewables. Candela is an independent developer of utility-scale solar and storage projects, bringing together some old-school expertise (by solar industry standards). Brian Kunz is at the helm as CEO, while co-founder Nik Novograd will serve as CFO. And in case you missed it eight years ago, here’s our coverage of First Solar’s NextLight acquisition.
Vic Shao, co-founder of Green Charge, which was acquired by Engie in 2016, has founded Amply Power, which is in the business of “autonomous power" and charging for autonomous vehicles, in particular, according to a trademark filing.
Mastercard has brought sustainability to the c-suite with Kristina Kloberdanz as its first chief sustainability officer. She joined Mastercard a year ago as VP of corporate sustainability and was at IBM previously. Mastercard has various sustainability initiatives but has not invested as much as some other financial firms in terms of renewables. For instance, Visa announced its commitment to 100 percent renewables across its global operations by the end of 2019 as part of the RE100 initiative.
In the world of wind, AWEA has tapped Jennifer Jenkins to be director of its new distributed wind program. She has deep knowledge of this corner of the wind sector, as she was previously the executive director of the Distributed Wind Energy Association.
Global infrastructure investment firm Rubicon Infrastructure has brought on Tom Weirich as director of global marketing. He was previously director of marketing and business development at CohnReznick Capital. The company is expanding, with new offices coming across the globe and an expanding North American team.
And it wouldn’t be a jobs column these days without a Tesla executive move. Greg Callman, who was global director of business development for Tesla, is now global head of energy technology at Macquarie Capital.
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***Blockchain platform developer Energy Web Foundation has hired Hervé Touati as its first CEO. Touati was formerly leading the connected energy team at Shell and also served as managing director at the Rocky Mountain Institute. EWF has also hired Jesse Morris, former principal at RMI, as its CCO and Raffaella Piraino, previously CFO of MET International AG, as its CFO.
EPC Swinerton Renewable Energy has brought on Craig Horne to spearhead its energy storage business for utility and C&I. He was previously at Renewable Energy Systems and is chair of the Energy Storage Association.
Ross Comeaux has left Deutsche Bank as director of power and utilities investment to join NextEra as senior director of corporate development.
Vivint Solar has promoted Jeremy Sabin to vice president of human capital, according to Solar Industry magazine. The move comes after a former employee fired a lawsuit alleging racial harassment.
Investment firm G2VP, which focuses on the digitization of industries, has added Sharon Ji to its venture investor team. She was previously at TPG Capital.
Neil Morris will lead the Faraday Institution, a U.K. government-backed initiative to promote the domestic battery industry. Morris is a former BP executive. The Faraday Institution should not be confused with the Scottish startup Faraday Grid, which is developing technology to improve power quality and reduce losses on distribution networks.
Navigant Consulting has brought on slew of new senior hires in their energy practice, including Ed Batalla, Mark Henderson, Lon Huber and Maurits Ornstein.
Pay-as-you-go solar provider Azuri has hired Steve Haigh as VP of software and services as the off-grid solar company scales up in Africa.
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