IMI appoints technical expert to drive growth of green H₂

IMI has appointed technical hydrogen expert Dr Cornelia Neumann as its new Sales and Business Development Manager. She will be responsible for growing the company’s portfolio of H₂ customers across Germany, in key sectors such as transport, power and industry.

Dr Neumann joins IMI to support its ongoing energy transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. Her appointment follows the company’s expansion into the green H₂ market with development of the IMI VIVO PEM electrolyzer, which is already being used in research institutions, such as the University of Sheffield, and across R&D departments of key sectors, such as transport.

Gaining a doctorate in technical chemistry from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, in 2020, Dr Neumann has more than three years’ experience in the chemical industry, specializing in electrochemistry.

IMI is growing its presence in the German market, particularly within mobility where H₂ can be used to power fleets of buses and other forms of public transport. Green H₂, like that supplied by the IMI VIVO PEM electrolyzer, offers superior range when compared to electric vehicles, making it an ideal fuel for haulage and inter-city transportation.

Dr Neumann said, “The H₂ revolution is something I’m passionate about, and our PEM electrolyzers will play a critical role in the increased use of the fuel across Germany. IMI is leading the charge for greener industry and is focused on making the energy transition a success. H₂ fuel cells offer better range and uptime, as well as weight savings, which is particularly important in the German market where hilly terrain can pose challenges for vehicles fitted with heavy batteries.

“Offering innovative green H₂ technology to our customers is hugely important, and a key part of making the transition from fossil fuels both realistic and affordable. We offer a complete package that makes it easier than ever for businesses to kick-start the production of green H₂.”

H₂ will prove crucial in the worldwide transition to sustainable and cleaner energy, according to the International Energy Agency. When powered using renewables, such as wind and solar, the IMI VIVO PEM electrolyzer provides businesses with a simple way to generate clean H₂ fuel.

This decentralized capability is key, given that only a small percentage of today’s H₂ can legitimately be classified as green, with much of it produced at large, centralized facilities far from the needs of the businesses that need it.

Dr Neumann added, “Our IMI VIVO electrolyzer is designed to unlock the H₂ value chain, and our goal is to make it easier for businesses to generate, store and use the fuel at scale. I am excited to direct this effort across Germany and the surrounding regions by demonstrating the power of breakthrough engineering for a better world.”

Ballard announces appointment of Jacqui Dedo to Board of Directors

Ballard Power Systems announced the appointment of Ms. Jacqueline (Jacqui) Dedo to the Ballard Board of Directors. Ms. Dedo brings relevant experience to the Board with her background in the transportation industry, including electrified propulsion in heavy-duty mobility, while also bringing complementary competencies related to strategy, innovation, technology, and corporate governance.

"We strive to have a Board that is comprised of highly qualified directors with diverse and complementary backgrounds, skillsets, and experience, and who demonstrate integrity and suitability for overseeing management in the business and affairs of the company," said Jim Roche, Ballard's Chair. "We are pleased to welcome Jacqui to the Ballard Board. Her deep background in the global mobility industry and her experience with innovation and growth in an entrepreneurial environment will be invaluable to Ballard as we focus on continued innovation, market adoption, product cost reduction, and business scaling."

Ms. Dedo added, "I am delighted to join the Ballard Board of Directors as the company deploys hydrogen fuel cell engines to meet increasing adoption rates in heavy-duty mobility applications. I look forward to leveraging my experience working with global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to support Ballard's mission."

Ms. Dedo is currently the co-founder of Aware Mobility, LLC, and sits on the boards of directors of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Workhorse Group Inc., Carbon Revolution and the Cadillac Products Automotive Company. Ms. Dedo has over two decades of board experience and has more than 40 years of experience across a variety of functions and verticals in the mobility industry. She previously served as President of Piston Group and Chief Strategy and Supply Chain Officer for Dana Holding Corp. Ms. Dedo previously held various leadership positions at The Timken Company, Motorola and Robert Bosch Corporation. Ms. Dedo earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan. She has been involved in numerous charitable organizations and has been honored on multiple occasions by Automotive News as one of the "Top 100 Leading Women in the Automotive Industry."

H-TEC SYSTEMS expands management team with key positions to support the company's growth strategy

H-TEC SYSTEMS, a leading provider of PEM electrolyzer technology, has positioned itself in the first quarter to ensure future-proof international growth through its team of experts in crucial key positions. Over the past two years, H-TEC SYSTEMS’ workforce has increased almost fivefold and grown from around 100 to currently 600 employees since the beginning of 2022. With a strong team of experienced experts at the second management level, the company has further strengthened its Technology & Innovation, Production & Service, Business & Sales divisions in the first quarter of 2024. H-TEC SYSTEMS has thus responded to the increasing demand for solutions for global H₂ ramp-up with a top-class line-up.

H-TEC SYSTEMS welcomes the company´s four new Vice Presidents Jochen Straub, Nima Pegemanyfar, Bernd Behnke and Claudio Bravo Granadino as senior executives with a wide range of experience. They bring with them a wealth of know-how – from pioneering work in the field of H₂ technology to optimum sales and project management, and from automation professionals to stack management experts.

Jochen Straub takes over as the new Vice President R&D Stack. Straub is one of the pioneers in the field of H₂ and electrolysis technology with more than 14 years of experience in system and stack development at Siemens/Siemens Energy. With his passion for innovation and commitment, he will continue to further drive H-TEC SYSTEMS’ stack development.

Claudio Bravo Granadino has been named Vice President Operations Electrolyzer. He is a highly experienced specialist in management and technology with an extensive background in various management positions in the automotive sector, in particular at BMW Group. He brings more than 15 years of expertise in project management, production, strategy and corporate management, and will now drive the continuous expansion and development of electrolyzer production. His areas of responsibility include order management, production engineering, assembly, logistics, facility management along with the management of the Augsburg site.

H-TEC SYSTEMS has appointed Dr. Nima Pegemanyfar as its new Vice President Sales. Pegemanyfar has spent most of his professional career in the energy industry. Among other things, he worked at Siemens Energy for 15 years in various sales and management functions in the areas of power generation as well as the oil and gas business. With a doctorate in aerospace engineering, he has extensive experience in international sales and proposal management, especially for electrolysis projects.

Dr. Bernd Behnke joins H-TEC SYSTEMS as Vice President Project Execution. He has a solid background in mechanical and plant engineering. His professional career has taken him through well-known companies such as Lurgi, ABB Kraftwerke, Alstom Power and MAN Energy Solutions where he held various project management positions at international locations ranging from Project Director and Head of Projects to Vice President Project Management Office (PMO).

“We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome four outstanding personalities with different experiences especially in the areas of hydrogen and industrialization. The broad wealth of experience will help continue to shape H-TEC SYSTEMS’ journey of growth in which we are constantly changing and will thus expand our leadership team,” said Sophie Koska, Executive Vice President People and Culture at H-TEC SYSTEMS.

“H-TEC SYSTEMS is continuously growing and is bringing the right experts on board to further expand its position as a strong player in the international hydrogen economy. Green hydrogen is a global growth market. With the new team of internationally experienced managers, we can further expand our core competencies and support the market even better in achieving the net-zero goals,” explained Robin v. Plettenberg, CEO of H-TEC SYSTEMS.