Ascent Solar Technologies Inc of Thornton, CO, USA, which manufactures lightweight thin-film photovoltaic modules based on copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) using flexible substrate materials, has appointed Robert Roche as vice president of sales, marketing and communications.
Roche has more than 25 years of sales, marketing and technical leadership experience. Prior to joining Ascent, he served two years as VP, sales & business development at United Solar (a division of Energy Conversion Devices), where he repositioned their channel sales and marketing strategies and rapidly grew their global customer network. Prior to that, he was VP, sales & business development at the Carrier Division of United Technologies Corp (UTC), responsible for growing its energy-efficiency services business in North America.
“He will be a key driver in our continued transformation from traditional BIPV/BAPV [building-integrated/building-applied photovoltaic] solar applications to the high-premium specialty market and consumer electronics applications,” says CEO Victor Lee. “With this key addition to our leadership team, Ascent is well positioned to further accelerate progress on execution of our new strategy with the EnerPlex product line,” he adds.
“Ascent possesses revolutionary technology that provides a compelling solar power solution for customers in key markets such as portable consumer power, aerospace & defense, transportation and off-grid power,” comments Roche.
Before joining its Carrier Division, Roche was general manager of marketing & applications engineering at the UTC Power division, and led global marketing and technical sales support efforts for its commercial fuel cell and alternative energy product lines. His career at UTC Power also included international experience in engineering management, joint venture program management, new product development and product management, and he is a named inventor on nine US Patents. Roche has a BS in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
