On the Move – NREL, Aemetis, BASF, Store Enso, Finnair, BrightNight
We are now a few months into 2022 but there are still some changes going on with personnel moves in the bioeconomy. From Aemetis President Andy Foster elected to the Board of Opportunity Stanislaus to several BASF and Store Enso leadership changes, a new Finnair CIO and BrightNight CFO, it’s an exciting time to work in the bioeconomy.
If you have an “On the Move” for us to cover, please contact Helena Kennedy at [email protected].
Aemetis President Andy Foster Elected to Opportunity Stanislaus Board of Directors
In California, Aemetis, Inc., a leading producer of renewable natural gas and renewable biofuels, announced that Andy Foster, President of the Aemetis Advanced Fuels business, was elected to the Board of Directors for Opportunity Stanislaus.
Opportunity Stanislaus is a regional economic development agency located in Stanislaus County, the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley. The mission of Opportunity Stanislaus is to improve the economic vitality of the County and region through innovative programs that help entrepreneurs start new businesses, help existing businesses expand, and attract new businesses to the region. Opportunity Stanislaus is equally dedicated to creating new opportunities for local citizens and businesses through creative workforce development and job service programs that help identify, train, and match applicants with employers.
Changes in responsibilities on the Board of Executive Directors of BASF
The BASF Board of Executive Directors has decided on changes to the responsibilities in two Board Ressorts. These will take effect on March 1, 2022, and are structured as follows:
Saori Dubourg (Ressort IV) will assume responsibility for the Monomers, Performance Materials, Petrochemicals and Intermediates divisions. She will continue to be responsible for the region Europe.
Michael Heinz (Ressort V), based in Florham Park, New Jersey, will assume responsibility for the Agricultural Solutions, Care Chemicals and Nutrition & Health divisions. He will continue to be responsible for the regions North America and South America.
Change in Stora Enso’s Group Leadership Team
Teemu Salmi, CIO, Head of IT & Digitalisation and a member of the Group Leadership Team, has decided to leave his position at Stora Enso. After five years in the company, Teemu will assume the CEO position at Finnish cyber security company Nixu. Teemu will continue working in Stora Enso until 20 May 2022.
“Teemu has been instrumental in driving and accelerating Stora Enso’s digitalisation agenda, supporting our transformation to become the renewable materials company. I want to express my gratitude and thanks to Teemu for his contributions to Stora Enso, while also wishing him all the very best for his new exciting career opportunity,” says Annica Bresky, President and CEO at Stora Enso.
As part of Stora Enso’s new operating model, IT & Digitalization will moving forward be part of the CFO organisation and report to CFO Seppo Parvi. Seppo and Teemu will immediately start the handover process to ensure a smooth transfer of the responsibilities.
“During 2022, we will continue to focus on implementing the decentralized and more efficient operating model in IT & Digitalization. In line with our strategy, this will create further value for all our stakeholders by enabling more empowered divisions and as a result strengthened customer-centricity,” says Seppo Parvi.
NREL Selects Amanda Kolker To Lead Geothermal Energy Program
“Amanda will work with NREL leadership and research staff to support and enhance the lab’s geothermal energy research and development portfolio, while leading strategic discussions with DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office,” said Johney Green, NREL’s Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Sciences associate laboratory director.
At NREL, Kolker has led research projects around geothermal resource assessment and innovative utilization of geothermal energy. In addition, she serves as a thought leader in renewable energy strategy and integration efforts at NREL.
Kolker has more than 15 years of professional experience as a geothermal geologist, specializing in resource exploration and sustainable production of geothermal energy. With a background in volcanology, igneous petrology, and geochemistry, she has worked in academia, government, and private industry as a researcher, project manager, and professor.
Antti Kleemola appointed as Chief Information Officer at Finnair
Antti Kleemola (MSc. Business) has been appointed as Chief Information Officer and member of the Finnair Executive Board as of 1 June 2022. Currently, he works as the CIO of Outokumpu. Previously Kleemola has held leadership positions in digital and IT services among others in VR Group, Vapo Group and Posti Group.
Finnair CEO Topi Manner says: “Smooth digital services that answer to the customer expectations are a vital part of a modern premium airline and developing them is at the core of our strategy. Antti holds strong experience in utilizing data to develop services as well as from harnessing IT and digital functions into an integral partner with the business. I warmly welcome Antti to Finnair and as a member of our Executive Board.”
Antti Kleemola says he has followed Finnair’s digital transformation with interest.
“Almost a hundred-year-old Finnair is an iconic brand and well-known by everyone in its home country Finland,” says Kleemola. “I’m eagerly waiting to get to know the people and teams behind Finnair’s digital and IT services. I look forward to planning and implementing the next phase with them and Finnair customers.”
BrightNight Appoints Chief Financial Officer
In Florida, BrightNight announced Brian Boland, former Managing Director with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), joined its senior leadership team as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Most recently, Brian led GIP’s $500M investment in BrightNight which facilitates the development of the company’s growing pipeline of dispatchable renewable power projects across the U.S. BrightNight CEO Martin Hermann shared, “We have gotten to know and appreciate Brian during our capital raise last year and we’re thrilled to welcome such an experienced leader to our team. Brian brings a valuable perspective on the industry, capital markets, and an experienced model of operational excellence that he can apply to our growing global operation.”
BrightNight is the first renewable integrated power company designed to provide utility and commercial and industrial customers with clean, dispatchable renewable power solutions. BrightNight works with customers across the U.S. and Asia Pacific to design, develop, and operate safe, reliable, large-scale, hybrid renewable power projects optimized to better manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy. Its deep customer engagement process, team of proven power experts, and industry-leading prices empower customers to overcome challenging energy sustainability standards, rapidly changing grid dynamics, and the transition away from fossil fuel generation.
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