Entrepreneur Simon Hackett steps down as CEO of battery firm Redflow
- The Australian
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Technology reporterSydney
Australian entrepreneur Simon Hackett has stepped down as CEO of battery storage company Redflow, just as it ramps up production in Thailand.
The entrepreneur and investor has been behind several companies in Australia. In 1991, Hackett founded internet service provider Internode which 20 years later employed around 450 staff, with nearly 200,000 customers and an annual turnover of more than $180 million.
In recent years, the Tesla loving Hackett has been the force behind Redflow, an Australian firm building zinc-bromide batteries capable of storing large amounts of solar energy.
Hackett is the company’s largest shareholder and became acting CEO 12 months ago.
Redflow, in a statement, says the company’s current chief operating officer, Richard Aird, will be the new CEO.
“With more than 20 years experience in commercial development and operations, Richard has a thorough understanding of Redflow and its technology from holding various roles with the company since 2009.”
Redflow has also recruited Brett Johnson, Qantas General Counsel from 1995 to 2012, to its board as independent non-executive chairman, replacing Hackett.
Redflow says Hackett will have special oversight of technology-related matters.
“Simon’s technology oversight role will comprise external communications, public advocacy for the company’s zinc-bromide flow battery technology, and guiding its continuing technical development and direction.
“This includes continued involvement with development of the battery management system that he architected, simplifying, standardising and documentary battery interface, the configuration and performance tuning at customer sites.”
Redflow says it is moving its battery production from Mexico to Thailand and refocusing its sales and marketing on lead acid replacement units in the telecommunications, commercial, industrial, and green residential sectors.
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