PowerCo SE has announced that HW Vassen will become the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Member of the Board of Management starting August 1, 2024. The Supervisory Board ratified this decision today. Vassen, currently the Head of Series Development at PowerCo SE, has been pivotal in the development of the company's unified cell, which is set for mass production in 2025.
As CTO, Vassen will be responsible for overseeing technology and product development, as well as testing and analytics. He will succeed Soonho Ahn, who is stepping down at the end of July but will continue to advise the Volkswagen Group.
Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo SE, expressed gratitude towards Ahn, stating, "Soonho Ahn deserves our sincere thanks for all he has done at PowerCo. He built up the technology department and laid the foundation for future market success with the unified cell. He has clearly helped us on our way to becoming a sustainable, competitive battery company".
Blome also praised Vassen's appointment, noting, "With HW Vassen, we have found the ideal successor. He has already played a key role in the development of the unified cell and has extensive international experience in battery development. Under his leadership, we will continue to expand our technological power and innovative strength".
Vassen has been with PowerCo SE since mid-2023 and has extensive experience in battery technology, having spent six years in China working on battery cells and systems for Volkswagen Group China. He studied electrical engineering at RWTH Aachen University and has been with the Volkswagen Group since 1999.
Soonho Ahn, born in Seoul in 1960, has been instrumental in building up the technology department at PowerCo SE since 2022. Before joining PowerCo SE, Ahn was the Global Head of Battery Development at Apple.