By JOSEPH SZCZESNY
Of The Oakland Press
General Motors is taking on a larger role in running the Rochester Hills-based solar power company Sunlogics PLC.
Charles Bryant, formerly Sunlogics executive vice president of finance, was selected Tuesday to serve as interim chief executive officer after Michael Matvieshen, Sunlogics former CEO and founder stepped down from both his executive position and seat on the company’s board of directors.
GM paid $7.5 million last summer for a stake in Sunlogics, a vertically integrated supplier of solar power solutions, which has moved its headquarters from California to Rochester Hills.
Matvieshen will stay with the company but will concentrate on directing Sunlogics projects in China and Europe, said Sunlogics spokesman Franklin Santagate, who added that the company’s move from California to Michigan has been going very smoothly.
Sunlogics also announced Kamesh Gupta was named to the company’s board of directors. Gupta has spend 36 years with GM in various management and technical positions.
In his most recent position with General Motors, Gupta was global manager, engineering and strategic programs, Energy and Utilities Services Group, overseeing significant projects such as a 12-megawatt rooftop solar project in Zaragoza, Spain.
“We are pleased to have gained the renewable energy experience and insight that Kamesh Gupta brings to our company,” Bryant said. “His global management skills match well with our company’s anticipated growth opportunities. All of these management changes better position Sunlogics for the future.”
In addition, Sunlogics has retained Abraham Morris as special adviser to the company’s board of directors, Bryant said.
“Morris brings over 25 years of operational, strategic and financial experience to our Sunlogics team. Over the next several months, he is working with us to develop a strategic operational and financial plan to manage the anticipated accelerated growth of the company,” Bryant added.
As part its investment in Sunlogics, General Motors committed to double solar output globally from 30 megawatts to 60 megawatts by the end of 2015.
“Our GM facilities currently house 30 megawatts of solar power, and we are committing today to double that capacity to 60 megawatts over the next few years, which is equivalent to powering 10,000 homes annually,” said Mike Robinson, GM vice president of energy and environment.
General Motors Ventures LLC made the $7.5 million investment in Sunlogics.
GM also signed commercial agreements with Sunlogics for the installation of solar-charging canopies at Chevrolet dealerships and GM facilities, as well as a power purchase agreement to install large-scale solar arrays at GM buildings and purchase the energy they produce.
GM’s solar expansion and financial commitment provides a firm foundation for the growth of Sunlogics business worldwide and will bring more sustainable green energy to GM operations, Matvieshen said in July.
Contact Joseph Szczesny at 248-745-4650, email joe.szczesny@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter at @opjoesez.
