Franz Heim steps down at Sunways

Franz Heim, chairman of the board of the German solar cell manufacturer Sunways AG, resigned on 31 March. Heim, who joined Sunways in 1996, had been chairman since January 2001.

© Sunways AG Photovoltaics Leaving: »Personal reasons« cited for Heim's resignation.

Sunways spokesman Uwe Rosentreter cited »personal reasons« for Heim's resignation. But there may be other reasons as the company experienced rough times during the last year (see PI 10/2001, p. 16) reflected in a current stock price dramatically lower than when first issued. Heim, who will continue at Sunways in an advisory capacity, remains a large shareholder. According to a Sunways quarterly report, on Sept. 30, Heim held approximately 20 percent of the company's 9.2 million shares. His sales duties will be taken over by Roland Burkhardt Sunways' CTO; the CFO Bernd Fessler will be responsible for investor relations.

Last September, Heim had denied rumors concerning his resignation. »The investors have encouraged us to maintain our course,« he said at the time. »Sales are running at full speed. Therefore any resignation rumors are pure nonsense.«

 Iris Krampitz
© PHOTON International, May 2002