Salzgitter, June 20, 2024 – PowerCo SE has announced the appointment of HW Vassen as the new Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Board of Management, effective from August 1, 2024. The decision was ratified today by the company’s Supervisory Board. Vassen, currently serving as Head of Series Development at PowerCo SE, will oversee technology and product development, as well as testing and analytics.
During his tenure as Head of Series Development, Vassen played a pivotal role in the advancement of PowerCo’s unified cell, slated for mass production starting in 2025. His appointment marks a strategic move by PowerCo SE to bolster its technological capabilities and innovation under his leadership.
Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo SE, expressed gratitude to Soonho Ahn, the outgoing Chief Technology Officer, for his contributions in establishing the technology department and laying the groundwork for PowerCo’s future market endeavors with the unified cell technology. Ahn, who will step down at the end of July, will continue to support the Volkswagen Group in an advisory capacity.
“Soonho Ahn deserves our sincere thanks for his invaluable contributions to PowerCo. He has been instrumental in establishing our technology roadmap, particularly with the unified cell technology, positioning us as a sustainable and competitive force in the battery industry,” stated Frank Blome.
HW Vassen brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously led battery cell and system development efforts at Volkswagen Group China for six years. His international expertise and track record in battery technology development align well with PowerCo’s strategic goals moving forward.
Born in 1972, HW Vassen holds a degree in electrical engineering from RWTH Aachen University and has been with the Volkswagen Group since 1999.
Soonho Ahn, born in Seoul in 1960, holds a PhD in electrochemistry for battery applications from Auburn University (USA) and has been instrumental in building PowerCo SE’s technology department since 2022, following his tenure as Global Head of Battery Development at Apple.
