5 January 2012

Amonix CEO Brian Robertson killed in light aircraft crash

Amonix Inc of Seal Beach, CA, USA, which makes utility-scale concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems using III-V multi-junction solar cells, says that its CEO and board director Brian Robertson was killed on 22 December when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed in York County, PA en route to join his family for the holidays. Robertson was a keen pilot, with instrument and commercial rating licenses.

Picture: Brian Robertson.

“Brian was an energetic, charismatic leader with such drive and ambition,” comments founder, chief technical officer & chairman Vahan Garboushian. “He was devoted to establishing the commercial viability of CPV in this huge arena of solar energy... We will continue on the path to realize his dream,” he adds.

Robertson joined Amonix in late 2009, through the acquisition of solar power manufacturing plant development company Sunworks Solar LLC (where he was co-founder & CEO from 2008 to 2009). Previously, in 1996 Robertson co-founded web-based services start-up PlanetAll, where he served as chief technical officer until Amazon.com acquired the firm in 1998. In 1999, he co-founded Visible Markets (an electronic trading platform for mortgage- and asset-backed securities), where he was CEO until its acquisition by Thomson Financial in 2001. He then co-founded Sun Edison LLC (North America’s largest solar energy services provider) and was its chief financial officer from 2004 to 2007 and president from 2007 to 2008, before its acquisition in 2009 by MEMC Electronic Materials (which makes silicon wafers for the semiconductor and solar industries).

Robertson had a degree in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from Harvard Business School School (where he led students’ efforts to install solar panels on the Shad Hall athletic facility).

Robertson leaves behind a wife and three children. For those wishing to make a donation in Robertson’s honor, the ‘Brian D. Robertson Foundation’ has been established. Tax-deductable donations will be used to provide support for the organizations and causes including the Solar Foundation, YMCA Indian Princess/Guide Program, MIT, Harvard Business School, and the American Heart Association. Checks should be made payable to ‘Brian D. Robertson Foundation’ and sent to: Brian D. Robertson Foundation, c/o the Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA.

Visit: www.tbf.org

Visit: www.amonix.com