Suniva announces new VP of module operations

NORCROSS, USA: Suniva Inc., a US manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, announced a key addition to its executive management.

Gregory Mihalik joins Suniva as vice president of module operations from SunPower where he oversaw the rapid expansion of the company’s module manufacturing capacity. In his new role, Mr. Mihalik will oversee all aspects of module design and manufacturing and will join Suniva’s executive management committee.

“As a seasoned veteran of solar module operations, Greg brings invaluable experience to the powerful executive management team we’ve assembled at Suniva,” said Suniva CEO John Baumstark. “Suniva has hired the best management in the business and we are poised to deliver even higher solar cell and module efficiencies at an affordable cost. Greg’s operations expertise and module experience will further advance our efforts and enable us to rapidly increase our module production.”

Mihalik has more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry, with 15 of those in solar manufacturing and operations. He spent the past three years in the Philippines managing SunPower’s internal and contract module operations worldwide – completing construction of a 500 megawatt (MW) site and expanding operations from a single line of 30 MW to ten lines totaling 400 MW.

He also grew SunPower’s contract manufacturing capacity from 40 MW per year in Asia to 400 MW in Asia, Europe and North America. In addition, Mihalik has held executive leadership positions in operations and engineering at SolarWorld, Shell Solar Industries and Siemens Solar.

“Suniva has assembled one of the solar industry’s most qualified executive management teams – and I’m thrilled to join them,” said Mihalik. “During Suniva’s next stage of expansion, I look forward to collaborating with the Suniva team to further develop the company’s solar module business worldwide – and to ensure Suniva produces world-class quality modules with innovative and cost effective materials and processes.”

In December 2009, Suniva added another key executive from the module industry to its executive management team when the company appointed Marco Garcia as chief commercial officer. Garcia, who previously served as vice president of commercial/utility division sales at Suntech, now leads worldwide sales for Suniva.