Smart grid and grid edge
Varentec, a maker of digital power routers along with control and analytics software, named David Konye as VP of Sales. Konye was previously with Schneider Electric, GE Fanuc, and Siemens. Varentec has backing from Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, and other VCs.
Ecobee, a smart thermostat maker, added Ann Perreault, formerly with Cooper Power Systems and Xcel Energy, as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Utilities.
PositivEnergy Practice named former City of Chicago CTO and IBM exec John Tolva as President.
Solar
Following the acquisition of Solmetric, CEO and founder Willard MacDonald will join the Vivint Solar management team as VP of Technology Development.
Advanced Energy added Bates Marshall as Thin Films Sales and Marketing VP. Marshall had previously been at SMA.
Solar developer juwi International named Stephan Hansen and Dirk Retzlaff as Co-Managing Directors.
Suntech Power Holdings named Deyong He as acting CFO and added him to the Board of Directors. Suntech’s Board and liquidators continue to work through the company’s bankruptcy and reorganization final review.
Other Job Moves
Lithium-ion battery maker AllCell Technologies brought former Visteon and Ford manufacturing operations exec Tom Nation on board as Manufacturing VP.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) promoted former Customer Services Director Frankie McDermott to Chief Customer Officer.
Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA), former Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, announced he would not run for re-election in November. Along with Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA), Waxman pushed the 2009 energy bill, with its cap-and-trade provision, through the House before it was defeated in the Senate.
Former U.S. House of Representatives energy policy staffer Matthew Roberts will become Executive Director of the Energy Storage Association, the industry's lobbying organization and trade group. Darrell Hayslip will chair ESA’s board, and Katherine Hamilton will serve as Policy Director.