Solar company First Solar Inc. announced on May 9, 2016 the appointment of Georges Antoun to the position of Chief Commercial Officer. Antoun has been working with First Solar since 2012 when he was the Chief Operations Officer (COO). Later, he was promoted President for the company’s US project and business development portfolio.

In his new role, Antoun will have comprehensive leadership responsibility for Global Project and Business Development, with a primary focus on increased sales and sustainable growth in emerging markets. The company’s global project development, business development and strategic marketing teams will report to Antoun.

While announcing its first quarter financial results last month (see First Solar Q1/2016), the management shared that its CEO James Alton Hughes will be replaced by current CFO Mark Widmar. Both Antoun and Widmar will assume their positions formally on July 1, 2016.

About Antoun, Widmar said, “I am confident that he can lead a fully integrated international business development organization that will deliver on our strategic objectives while focusing on deeper customer intimacy.”

First Solar also shared that its President-International, Joe Kishkill will be leaving the company to pursue other interests.