Ridenour to Become UQM Technologies CEO in Dec.

LONGMONT, CO - UQM Technologies Inc., a developer of alternative energy technologies, has appointed Eric Ridenour, former chief operating officer of the Chrysler Group, to the position of president and chief operating officer. Ridenour will join UQM on Sept. 1 and later assume the position of CEO on Dec. 1, the company said.

by Staff

August 31, 2010

2 min to read

LONGMONT, CO - UQM Technologies Inc., a developer of alternative energy technologies, has appointed Eric Ridenour, former chief operating officer of the Chrysler Group, to the position of president and chief operating officer. Ridenour will join UQM on Sept. 1 and later assume the position of CEO on Dec. 1, the company said.

Current CEO William G. Rankin will continue as chairman of the board of directors.

Ridenour, a 26-year veteran of the automobile industry, began his career as a powertrain engineer with General Motors Corp.

During his 21 years with the Chrysler Group, he served in a series of management positions. Those roles included director of advanced vehicle engineering, vice president of product planning, vice president of the premium vehicle product team, and executive vice president of product development and quality. From 2005 through 2007, he was COO and a member of the board of management at DaimlerChrysler AG.

In his role as chief operating officer at Chrysler, Ridenour was responsible for a $10 billion operating budget and a workforce of 65,000 employees.

"We are excited to have Eric join the company as we begin the next phase of our growth," said Rankin, UQM Technologies' chairman and CEO. "Eric's decades of experience in the automobile industry and extensive experience as a senior manager in a variety of important roles at Chrysler make him the ideal person to lead our company into the future."

Rankin will step down as CEO on Nov. 30, after nearly 18 years of service with the company.

"Bill's strategic vision and hard work during his tenure has transformed the company from a small technology development company to a qualified manufacturer of world-class electric propulsion systems and positioned the company as a key player in the market for electrically powered vehicles," said Stephen J. Roy, the senior member of the company's board of directors. "We look forward to Bill's continued involvement as chairman of the board and we wish him the best during his retirement years."

UQM Technologies is developing products for the alternative energy technologies sector, including propulsion systems for electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicles.

Topics:Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles UQM Technologies Battery-Electric Vehicles Green Fleet

More Green Fleet

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.