John Carrington, First Solar's executive vice president for global marketing and business development, is no longer with the company.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday, First Solar said, "Effective August 24, 2009, First Solar, Inc. (the "Company") and John Carrington, mutually agreed to end Mr. Carrington's employment."

The announcement seemed sudden, given that top executives typically give some public notice of their impending departure.

First Solar's CEO Michael Ahearn, for one, plans to leave his post but remains with the company as its chairman to focus on public policy advocacy. He talked the plan to step down in April this year, and the company hasn't announced a replacement.

Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar (NSDQ: FSLR) makes cadmium-telluride thin film panels, and is among the top 10 solar panel producers in the world.

Carrington joined First Solar in May 2008. He previously worked at General Electric for 15 years. At GE, he was a general manager for several lines of business at different times, including plastics and automotive.