UQM Technologies Inc., a developer and manufacturer of high-efficiency electric motors, generators, power electronic controllers and fuel cell compressors, announced that its board of directors has promoted Joseph Mitchell to the position of chief operating officer (COO) with additional responsibilities of interim president and CEO. This appointment is effective immediately, as the 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.
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 adviser to Mitchell and the rest of the UQM management team.
Donald Vanlandingham, UQM’s chairman of the board of directors, said, “The board is excited to have Joe expand his responsibilities at UQM. 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 past five years.”
“I look forward to working closely with our board of directors, executive team, and all of our employees to achieve our strategic goals,” said Mitchell. “Since joining the company in 2012, I have been involved in all facets of the business and am more confident than ever in UQM’s potential.”
Mitchell joined the company in June 201, serving as senior vice president of operations. From March 2012 until joining the company, Mitchell was director of quality, North America, for A123 Systems Inc. Mitchell served as director, operations and quality – North American hybrid electric drives for Continental Automotive from January 2008 through March 2012. From January 2007 through January 2008, Mitchell served as director of operations and hybrid drive segment manager for Siemens VDO. Prior to that, he was director of operations for the electric and hybrid drive division and head of global quality for Ballard Power Systems. He also held a series of international manufacturing and quality positions at Ford Motor Co. in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Mitchell received a bachelor’s degree from Niagara University and a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.
