UQM Technologies Inc. has promoted Joseph Mitchell to the position of chief operating officer with additional responsibilities of interim president and CEO, effective immediately, as the company's board sets out to identify a permanent CEO through a disciplined search process. Eric Ridenour, UQM's former CEO, president and director, has left the company to pursue other interests.
Based in Colorado, UQM is a developer and manufacturer of electric motors, generators, power electronic controllers and fuel cell compressors for the commercial truck, bus, automotive, marine, military and industrial markets. The company says a major emphasis for UQM is developing propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Mitchell joined UQM on June 1, 2012, and served as senior vice president of operations. Prior to joining the company, he held positions at A123 Systems Inc., Continental Automotive, Siemens VDO, Ballard Power Systems and Ford Motor Co.
‘The board is excited to have Joe expand his responsibilities at UQM,” says Donald Vanlandingham, UQM's chairman of the board. “Joe has played a major role in the company's progress on a number of fronts and is ideally suited to assume these added responsibilities because of his integral knowledge of all aspects of the business and his strong relationships throughout the industry. We thank Eric for his leadership during the last five years.’
John Sztykiel, UQM director and former CEO of Spartan Motors, will be the board of directors' liaison during the transition period and will serve as an advisor to Mitchell and the rest of the UQM management team.
