The EPIA Annual General Meeting organised in Frankfurt on 19 March 2009 was a privileged occasion to celebrate EPIA surpassing the landmark figure of 200 members and share the association’s strategic orientations for the coming years. It was also the opportunity to fill the seat of President, vacant since October 2008 with the resignation of Ernesto Macias.
Members re-elected Dr. Winfried Hoffmann as President of the association until 2010 by 82% of votes. Dr. Winfried Hoffmann is currently VP and Chief Technology Officer of the Solar Business Group at Applied Materials GmbH. He has nearly 30 years experience in the solar PV business.
Anton Milner was elected Vice-President by 78% of votes. Anton Milner is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Q-Cells SE. He has been involved in the PV sector since 2000.
Stephan Hansen was elected as Board Director among 8 candidates. Stephan Hansen holds the position of Managing Director at First Solar GmbH. He was born and educated in Germany and graduated from the University of Stuttgart in 1993 with a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. After that he worked in the fields of business process re-engineering, optimisation of production and strategy & new business development. Before joining First Solar as Managing Director in 2004, he worked for three years in the PV sector in managerial positions for companies of distribution, system integration and module manufacturing in Germany and the US. As Managing Director at First Solar GmbH, he is responsible for worldwide sales of modules, customer service and the implementation of Business Development strategies in EMEA.
The EPIA Board of Directors is now composed of:
President 2009-2010:
Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, Applied Materials GmbH, VP and Chief Technology Officer
Vice-Presidents:
Dr. Murray Cameron, Phoenix Solar AG, Chief Operating Officer
Boris Klebensberger, SolarWorld AG, Chief Technology Officer
Anton Milner, Q-Cells SE, Chief Executive Officer
Directors:
Günther Cramer, SMA Technologies AG, Member of the Management Board
Christian Langen, Sovello AG, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Michael Harre, SCHOTT Solar GmbH, Chief Sales Officer
Stephan Hansen, First Solar GmbH, Managing Director
