GT Advanced Technologies says it is transitioning to a functional organizational structure from its prior business unit organization. The company first announced its reorganization plans last October.
Under the new structure, the sales, service and worldwide operations will be centralized under the leadership of Dan Squiller, who will continue to report to president and CEO Tom Gutierrez. Dave Keck, formerly general manager, polysilicon and photovoltaic equipment, will lead the company's sales and service across all businesses, reporting to Squiller.
Jeff Ford, vice president of the Directional Solidification System (DSS) business development, will continue to have responsibility for GT's DSS business. The company's research and development initiatives in next-generation solar, Hyperion ion implant exfoliation and sapphire will be managed under Vikram Singh, executive vice president of advanced systems development.
P.S. Raghavan, chief technology officer, will continue to lead technology development for silicon carbide and gallium nitride applications. Cheryl Diuguid, formerly general manager of the sapphire business, has left the company.
Additionally, the company is shifting final development and beta build activities for its HiCz product – a PV furnace to produce N-type silicon wafers – to its Merrimack, N.H., facility and will be idling its HiCz materials pilot manufacturing facility in St. Louis, laying off 25 employees.
The company says it expects to be ready to offer the HiCz product by mid-year, but given current market conditions in the PV industry, orders for the new-generation systems may not occur until 2014, when the industry begins to recover.
