First Solar recruits new chief human resources officer

First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA – which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) services – says that Caroline Stockdale will lead its human resources and communications function, overseeing a global workforce of over 6500. She replaces Chris Bueter, who will continue in an advisory role until his retirement on 1 April.

“Caroline brings strategic thinking and problem-solving skills gained from working in disruptive industries that have had to be nimble to adapt and evolve,” comments CEO Mark Widmar. “These attributes are critical to our success in an ever-changing marketplace.”

Stockdale has more than 20 years of operating experience in finance, human resources, business leadership and process excellence, ranging from large global companies to entrepreneurial start-ups. She was most recently CEO of First Perform, a provider of human resources services for a variety of customers from the Fortune 100 to cyber start-ups. She served as chief human resources officer for Medtronic and Warner Music Group among others, and as senior human resources leader in global divisions of American Express and General Electric. Stockdale is also a member of several advisory groups including the Forbes Human Resources Council.

First Solar is celebrating both its 20th anniversary and the shipment of 25GWDC of photovoltaic (PV) modules (the only US solar manufacturing company to achieve this milestone). It recently announced the start of production at its new PV module manufacturing facility in Lake Township, Ohio (its second factory in the USA). First Solar’s expanded manufacturing footprint in the USA, which represents over $1bn in cumulative investment and directly created about 500 new jobs, makes it the largest solar manufacturer in the USA and the Western Hemisphere. First Solar also operates manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Malaysia, and has a commercial presence on five continents.

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