Meyer Burger CEO Gunter Erfurt has resigned, with Franz Richter named as his successor. CFO Markus Nikles additionally stepped down as a part of the corporate’s restructuring, which included job cuts, significantly in Europe.
From pv journal Germany
Meyer Burger Technology AG mentioned this week that it has begun a strategic reorientation, together with modifications to the administration staff.
These steps embody a complete restructuring of the corporate’s prime administration, with CEO Gunter Erfurt leaving the Switzerland-based PV producer and handing over the administration of the previous Chairman of the Board of Directors Franz Richter.
However, in line with the announcement, Erfurt “shall be obtainable to the board of administrators in an advisory capability throughout the transition together with his in depth business community and information of the worldwide photo voltaic business.”
Richter mentioned Erfurt has performed a key shaping function in recent times at Meyer Burger as CEO and CTO, main the corporate by means of its transition from a provider of manufacturing tools to a producer of photo voltaic cell and module in a difficult market.
“With his tireless dedication to Meyer Burger and the European and American photo voltaic business, Erfurt has turn out to be a famend business promoter worldwide. Richter himself desires to deliver his a few years of expertise to the innovation of business corporations in his new place,” mentioned Richter.
Erfurt additionally spoke on LinkedIn.
“This is a superb honor for me – one of the best to the corporate and its staff, to the purchasers and to all of the supporters. Good luck and far success for a vibrant future.”
He thanked everybody who labored with him and the corporate.
“Unfortunately, European politicians are too afraid of China and aren’t prepared to guard the European photo voltaic business from unfair competitors and, particularly in these occasions, to grab the distinctive alternative to start out a machine in jobs in Europe based mostly on Europe’s main photo voltaic expertise,” mentioned. Erfurt. “I stand by my sturdy conviction: Europe has the identical expertise, the educated individuals and the entrepreneurial creativity to succeed, it simply wants an industrial coverage that not solely acknowledges the indicators of the occasions of talks, however boldly put it into follow … Solar power will stay an essential manufacturing business for Europe’s future.”
Markus Nikles, the present CFO, will even go away Meyer Burger, with Ralf Hermkens (USA) and Frank Zimmermann (Europe), each government vice presidents, taking up finance and management. The administration board was decreased to 3 individuals, with the aim of rapidly returning to profitability.
COO Daniel Menzel will oversee gross sales along with his present function, whereas CSO Katja Tavernaro will oversee authorized and personnel issues throughout the restructuring. Meyer Burger additionally launched a restructuring program geared toward restoring profitability.
“In addition to specializing in the manufacturing areas of Thalheim (Germany, cell) and Goodyear (USA, module), the technological capabilities of Hohenstein-Ernstthal (Germany) ought to be maintained with a view to additional develop the expertise of future,” mentioned Meyer Burger.
The firm mentioned it plans to scale back its world workforce from about 1,050 to 850 by the top of 2025, primarily in Europe.
It added that it plans to discover the sale of expertise and tools to strategic clients in photo voltaic cell manufacturing and module expertise to extend gross sales margins and earnings. The firm will keep liquidity by promoting photo voltaic modules from current stock and by growing different unspecified property. It additionally mentioned it’s analyzing varied choices to shut the remaining financing hole.
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