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New board member at Centrotherm

German equipment maker has replaced its COO Boris Klebensberger only after few months with Jan von Schuckmann as of May 1

Anu Bhambhani

Announcing a major change in its management board, Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG has replaced its COO Boris Klebensberger only after few months in his job with Jan von Schuckmann as of May 1.

At its meeting on April 19, the Supervisory Board of Centrotherm  appointed Jan von Schuckmann to the company's Management Board with effect as of May 1.

Jan von Schuckmann, who was heading German wet-etching equipment maker RENA Technologies GmbH over the past 2 years, previously spent a 9-year period as CEO and holder of various management posts at office supplies manufacturer Herlitz AG.

Schuckmann is no stranger to Centrotherm. He already worked at the equipment maker during its insolvency proceedings. The company emphasized that he was "playing a key role in progressing the restructuring of Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG as its Chief Restructuring Officer and Management Board Spokesman between June 2012 and April 2014."

Schuckmann replaces former Chief Operations Officer, Boris Klebensberger, who relinquished his Management Board mandate by 'mutual consent' end of February due to 'differing ideas about the company's future strategic orientation.' Klebensberger, a former long-term COO of integrated PV company SolarWorld AG, worked only a few months for Centrotherm – he was appointed to the Management Board in the fall of 2015.

The Management Board now consists of Peter Augustin and Jan von Schuckmann. Augustin was only appointed to the board end of February, when board spokesperson Florian von Gropper stepped down after 2 years, in which he helped finalising the restructuring of the formerly insolvent company. "With the conclusion of the divestment of the equity interest held by Sol Futura, he has successfully concluded his mandate at Centrotherm, and will address new tasks, as planned," Centrotherm said. In January, Solarpark Blautal acquired 80% of the shares in Centrotherm from Sol Futura.