PEOPLE NEWS
Randolph takes over as CEO of Ecobat
Pictured (from left): Randolph, Berend and Paredes
Marcus Randolph has been appointed president and CEO of international lead battery recycler Ecobat, the company announced on March 17. Randolph, who will continue as chairman of Ecobat’s board, succeeded Jimmy Herring — who Ecobat said was no longer with the company effective March 16. Randolph said: “I want to thank Jimmy for his years of service and dedication to
Ecobat. He led a significant transformation of the company, including the 2019 restructuring of Ecobat, rebranding of the company and creation of a new leadership team.” Before Ecobat, Randolph was executive chairman of Boart Longyear, a Salt Lake City company and the world’s largest supplier of drilling services and drilling equipment to the minerals industries.
Randolph has also held several leadership posts with BHP Billiton in Australia. Separately, Ecobat announced on April 11 that Scott Paredes had been appointed as vice president of treasury. Paredes previously spent four years as vice president and treasurer at Southwire, the world’s second largest privately owned wire and cable manufacturer in the world. Meanwhile, Chelsey Berend has been promoted to Ecobat’s director of global marketing and communications, the company said on April 13. Berend joined Ecobat in January 2022 as chief of staff, working with the company’s executive committee.
Tesvolt appoints Koecke as CFO German battery storage systems specialist Tesvolt has appointed Philipp Koecke as chief financial officer, the company announced on April 4. Koecke will join the firm at the start of May. Koecke spent a number of years as an investment manager at a technologyoriented investment company before heading the finance department at Solarworld for 15 years. In addition Koecke was also on the boards of the company’s US subsidiaries. Tesvolt co-founder and MD Daniel Hannemann said Koecke “has already closely supported growth in other companies… at the same time, Philipp knows the market of our key business areas very well".
6 • Batteries International • Spring 2022
Tesvolt specializes in lithium battery storage systems for commerce and industry. The company
Philipp Koecke
uses high-performance battery cells from Samsung SDI at its gigafactory in Wittenberg, Germany.
New global role for Fantoni at Digatron Auto industry veteran Marcello Fantoni has been appointed head of global sales and marketing for battery testing and formation group Digatron, the company announced on February 18. Fantoni, who holds the combined role within the group of general manager of Italy-based Digatron Systems, has more than 20 years of experience in the global automotive industry with Fiat Chrysler — and has worked in several senior positions. He entered the energy storage industry in 2015, leading the international sales and marketing operation of a primary industrial group active in engineering lead battery assembly equipment and lithium ion cell assembly machinery solutions, in addition to selling power electronics formation solutions. Digatron founder and chairman Rolf Beckers said: “Marcello is an outstanding appointment and demonstrates Digatron’s commitment for future growth with a strategy to expand the business from the traditional battery laboratory to the plethora of opportunities arising from the EV electrification process for lithium cell manufacturing and testing — and now for our latest technology venture into manufacturing DC fast-charging infrastructure.”
Rolf Beckers (above, right) with Marcello Fantoni
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