Applied names CTO of solar business group

By Ann Steffora Mutschler -- Electronic News, 2/8/2007

Santa Clara, CA-based semiconductor manufacturing equipment leader Applied Materials said today that it has named Dr. Winfried Hoffmann CTO of its solar business group, and a member of the management board of Applied Materials GmbH, effective April 2.

Hoffmann will manage technology development for Applied in the U.S., Europe and Asia from the company’s facilities in Alzenau, Germany. Hoffmann will continue his industry role as president of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association and his leadership role with the German Solar Industry Association.

Hoffmann was most recently chairman of Schott Solar GmbH, and is recognized for his work in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, which adds important experience to Applied's efforts in the solar equipment market, the company said.

Mark Pinto, corporate CTO, senior VP and general manager of the new business and new products group at Applied said in a statement, “We are excited to have someone with Dr. Hoffmann’s global reputation, knowledge and hands-on experience join our senior technology leadership team.”

“His reputation as a world-renowned technologist in the field of renewable energies, together with his science and engineering relationships throughout Europe, will be a major asset to Applied,” he added.

Hoffmann’s career in the solar industry spans nearly three decades. He joined NUKEM’s solar division in 1979 and took over leadership in 1985.

In 1994, he formed the PV joint venture between NUKEM and Daimler-Benz Aerospace and became managing director of Applied Solar Energy (ASE) GmbH and chairman of the board of ASE Americas after the acquisition of Mobil Solar.

In 2002, Hoffmann was appointed chairman of the management board at RWE Schott Solar GmbH. With the acquisition by Schott in 2005, Hoffmann became a member of the management committee of Schott Solar GmbH.

He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg and a Member of the Supervisory Board of the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hameln, Germany.