Decision Makers
Board of Directors
Michael J. Ahearn has served as the CEO and Chairman of First Solar since August 2000. He served as President of First Solar from August 2000 to March 2007. Since 1996, he has been Partner and President of the equity investment firm, JWMA (formerly True North Partners, L.L.C.), the majority stockholder of First Solar. Prior to joining JWMA, Mr. Ahearn practiced law as a partner in the firm of Gallagher & Kennedy. He received both a B.A. in Finance and a J.D. from Arizona State University.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| First Solar, Inc. |
CEO |
Current |
| Renewable Energy Finance Forum-Wall Street |
Chief Executive Officer, First Solar |
Current |
| Gunther Portfolio |
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
President |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Partner |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Chairman |
Current |
| Jwma |
Partner and President |
Former |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| Arizona State University |
J.D. |
Former |
| Arizona State University |
B.A. In Finance |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Chief Executive Officer |
Current |
| Honeywell Aerospace |
President & Chief Executive Officer |
Former |
| Honeywell Corporation |
President & CEO, Aerospace Business |
Former |
| Honeywell Turbotechnologies |
President |
Former |
| Honeywell International Inc. |
Vice President Strategic Growth |
Former |
| Honeywell International Inc. |
General Manager Strategic Growth |
Former |
| Honeywell Aerospace |
President |
Former |
| Indiana University |
Bachelor's Degree In Finance |
Former |
George A. (Chip) Hambro joined First Solar in June 2001 as Vice President of Engineering, was named Vice President and General Manager in February 2003 and assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer in February 2005. Prior to joining First Solar, he held the positions of Vice President of Engineering & Business Development for Goodrich Aerospace from May 1999 to June 2001 and Vice President of Operations for ITT Industries from February 1997 to May 1999. Mr. Hambro graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Physical Science (Applied Physics).
Jens Meyerhoff joined First Solar in May 2006 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining First Solar, Mr. Meyerhoff was the Chief Financial Officer of Virage Logic Corporation, a leader in embedded infrastructure intellectual property, from January 2006 to May 2006. Mr. Meyerhoff was employed by FormFactor, Inc., a manufacturer of advanced wafer probe cards, as Chief Operating Officer from April 2004 to July 2005, Senior Vice President of Operations from January 2003 to April 2004 and Chief Financial Officer from August 2000 to March 2005. Prior to joining FormFactor, Inc., Mr. Meyerhoff was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Materials at Siliconix Incorporated, a manufacturer of power and analog semiconductor devices, from March 1998 to August 2000. Mr. Meyerhoff holds a German Wirtschaftsinformatiker degree, which is the equivalent of a Finance and Information Technology degree, from Daimler Benz' Executive Training Program.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Gunther Portfolio |
Chief Financial Officer |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Chief Financial Officer |
Current |
| Virage Logic Corporation |
Chief Financial Officer |
Former |
| FormFactor, Inc. |
Chief Operating Officer |
Former |
| Siliconix Incorporated |
Chief Financial Officer |
Former |
| Siliconix Incorporated |
Senior Vice President of Materials |
Former |
| FormFactor, Inc. |
Senior Vice President of Operations |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Executive Vice President, Product & Global Supply Chain Mgmt |
Current |
John Carrington joined First Solar in May 2008 as Executive Vice President, Global Marketing & Business Development. Mr. Carrington brings extensive global marketing experience from his leadership positions with General Electric spanning more than 15 years. Mr. Carrington previously served as general manager and chief marketing officer of General Electric Plastics (recently sold and re-named SABIC Innovative Plastics). While at GE, he also served as General Manager of automotive marketing in Tokyo, Japan; Pacific Marketing Director in Tokyo; and Commercial Director for GE's Noryl resin business in Selkirk, New York. John holds a BA in Economics & Marketing from the University of Colorado.
John Gaffney joined First Solar in January 2008 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Gaffney leads First Solar's legal, corporate development, government affairs, and corporate communications activities. Mr. Gaffney was formerly a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP where he advised numerous corporate and financial institution clients on merger, acquisition and capital markets transactions. Mr. Gaffney received a B.A. from George Washington University and a J.D. and an M.B.A. from New York University.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| First Solar, Inc. |
General Counsel & Executive Vice President |
Current |
| New York University |
J.D. |
Former |
| New York University |
M.B.A. |
Former |
| The George Washington University |
B.A. |
Former |
Carol Campbell joined First Solar in March 2006 as Director of Human Resources and was named Vice President of Human Resources in March 2007. Prior to joining First Solar, she was the Regional Director of Human Resources for North America at the Dana Corporation, where she was responsible for all Dana plants in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Ms. Campbell was with Dana for 20 years, progressing through levels of greater responsibility in the Legal and Human Resource Departments. She has her Professional Human Resources certification through the Society of Human Resources Management and has extensive experience successfully developing and running highly effective HR organizations in complex and rapidly changing environments. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Heidelberg College with a B.S. degree in Business.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Vice President, HR |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Director of Human Resources |
Current |
| Dana Holding Corporation |
Regional Director of Human Resources |
Former |
| Heidelberg College |
B.S. Degree In Business |
Former |
Mary Beth Gustafsson joined First Solar in October 2008 as Vice President, General Counsel. Ms. Gustafsson was previously Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Trane (formerly American Standard Companies, Inc.). Prior to that, she held roles as Chief Counsel of Trane's commercial and residential air conditioning systems business worldwide and Chief Corporate Counsel for corporate legal activities, including acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances, financing transactions, corporate governance and public company regulation. Mary Beth has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Boston University, and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Michigan Law School.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| First Solar, Inc. |
General Counsel & Vice President |
Current |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| University of New Brunswick |
J.D |
Former |
| University of British Columbia |
M.B.A. |
Former |
| The University of Western Ontario |
B.A. In Economics |
Former |
Dr. Rocheleau is the director of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) of the University of Hawaii designated as a US Department of Energy Center of Excellence. At HNEI Dr. Rocheleau has established the HNEI Thin Films Laboratory and developed a research program focused on thin film photovoltaics and renewable hydrogen production having near-term applications in both the commercial and military sectors. Dr. Rocheleau also serves as the PI of several programs including the Hawaii Energy and Environmental Technology Initiative; and the Hawaii Hydrogen Center for the Development and Deployment of Distributed Energy Systems. He is the author of over 30 publications in peer reviewed journals and over 20 conference proceedings in the areas of photovoltaics, photo electrochemical hydrogen production, and thin-film electronic materials. Dr. Rocheleau also holds six patents and three patent disclosures. Leveraging his extensive scientific and leadership capabilities he has led teams of scientists/engineers in multi-disciplinary programs providing contract research and development of PV and semiconductor manufacturing processes for a number of domestic and international firms including, Chronar Corporation, Solarex, First Solar, Trex Enterprises, and Global Solar Inc. Dr. Rocheleau received his BChE and PhD (1980) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and a M.S. in Ocean Engineering (1977) from the University of Hawaii.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Border and Port Security |
Member |
Current |
| Trex Enterprises Corporation |
|
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
|
Current |
| University of Hawaii |
Director |
Current |
| University of Delaware |
PhD (1980) In Chemical Engineering |
Former |
| University of Hawaii |
M.S. In Ocean Engineering (1977) |
Former |
| University of Hawaii |
Bche |
Former |
| University of Delaware |
Bche |
Former |
Array
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Gunther Portfolio |
President |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Gunther Portfolio |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Ieee |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| First Solar, Inc. |
Elected A Director |
Former |
Mike was recruited by the company's founders in 2000. When Mike joined the firm, he brought with him a wealth of experience in both operating management and corporate finance roles, most recently as President of Starbucks Coffee Company (UK) Ltd. in London. Prior to his international corporate leadership experience, Mike spent several years as an entrepreneur developing and selling franchise companies for both Blockbuster Video and Papa John's Pizza. While he was at Blockbuster, he had the opportunity to work closely with Goldner Hawn when it became the business' lead investor. Mike's career in corporate finance also includes Merrill Lynch in New York and Phoenix and a boutique investment banking business he launched, built and sold. Mike currently serves on the board of Goldner Hawn portfolio companies Allen-Edmonds and Transport America. He also holds a board position at the Guthrie Theater, and formerly, at the Walker Art Center. Mike is also a director at First Solar Corporation.
Executive News
-
Solar taps potential with 2GW plant
Shanghai Daily - 9/09/09 - View Story
-
Chinese Government Commits to World's Largest Solar Power Project
DailyTech - 9/09/09 - View Story
-
First Solar Names CEO
TradingMarkets - 9/09/09 - View Story
-
First Solar, China Near Deal To Build Huge Solar Field
Investors Business Daily - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
U.S. Solar Firm Cracks Chinese Market
New York Times - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
UPDATE: First Solar To Build 2-Gigawatt Plant In China
Morningstar.com - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar Agrees To Build 2-Gigawatt Plant In China
Morningstar.com - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
Arizona firm in deal to spread sun power to China
Los Angeles Times - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar empfängt Delegation der chinesischen Führung auf ihrer Suche nach nachhaltigen Energielösungen
Reuters - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
U.S. Company and China Plan Solar Project
New York Times - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
China Signs Deal With First Solar
New York Times - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar to build huge Chinese solar plant
CNN Money - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar to Team With Ordos City on Major Solar Power Plant in China Desert
Business Wire - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar gets initial approval for China project
The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar to start largest solar power plant in Ordos, China
The Business Journal of Phoenix - 9/08/09 - View Story
-
First Solar Hosts Chinese National Leadership Delegation Seeking Sustainable Energy Solutions
Reuters - 9/07/09 - View Story
-
First Solar Hosts Chinese National Leadership Delegation Seeking Sustainable Energy Solutions
Business Wire - 9/07/09 - View Story
-
First Solar gets visit from Chinese leaders
The Business Journal of Phoenix - 9/07/09 - View Story
-
Spanish Cut Subsidies for Solar Power
The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition - 9/07/09 - View Story
-
First Solar Names New CEO
FOXNews.com - 9/04/09 - View Story