WALTHAM, Mass. — A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate lithium ion batteries and systems, has named Edward Kopkowski as its new chief operating officer (COO). His appointment became effective Jan. 23.
Kopkowski brings more 25 years of global management and operational leadership in the manufacturing industry to A123, where he will be responsible for the company’s global manufacturing operations, advanced manufacturing engineering capabilities and the supply chain and quality organizations.
"Ed has a proven track record of success in leading global operations at a number of automotive supply companies, and we are pleased that he will be bringing his skills to A123 as our new COO," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "He has excelled in managing manufacturing operations, developing processes and systems to enable facilities worldwide to run efficiently and cost-effectively. We look forward to Ed’s contributions as we continue to enhance A123’s manufacturing proficiency to enable us to quickly build out capacity as demand increases while also maximizing the efficiency of our operations."
Prior to joining A123, Kopkowski served as vice president of operational excellence at Dana Holding Corp., a leading supplier of driveline products, power technologies and service parts for light- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers. At Dana, Kopkowski managed operations and let the implementation of the Dana Operating System across four operating units, which accounted for $6.1 billion in annual revenue and encompassed nearly 100 major facilities in 26 countries.
"I am thrilled to be joining A123 Systems, which has effectively commercialized its industry-leading technology and is now focused on improving the efficiency of its manufacturing operations on a global scale," said Kopkowski. "With solutions in high demand across all of its target markets, A123 is well-positioned for long-term success. I look forward to helping the company further streamline operations to reduce costs and continue making progress toward its profitability objectives."
