Robert Roche is Appointed VP of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Ascent Solar Technologies

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. announced that Robert Roche has been appointed vice president of sales, marketing and communications at the Thornton, CO-based solar panel manufacturer.

Roche brings more than 25 years of sales, marketing and technical leadership experience to Ascent Solar. Prior to joining Ascent, Roche served two years as vice president, sales and business development at United Solar, a division of Energy Conversion Devices, where he repositioned their channel sales and marketing strategies and rapidly grew their global customer network. Prior to that, Roche was vice president, sales and business development at United Technologies Corporation’s (UTC) Carrier Division, responsible for growing its energy efficiency services business in North America.

“We are extremely pleased to have Rob on board to lead our sales, marketing and communications efforts,” said Victor Lee, CEO of Ascent Solar. “Rob brings a wealth of sales experience and industry know-how to Ascent Solar. He will be a key driver in our continued transformation from traditional BIPV/BAPV solar applications to the high premium specialty market and consumer electronics applications. With this key addition to our leadership team, Ascent is well positioned to further accelerate progress on execution of our new strategy with the EnerPlex product line.”

“I’m very excited to take on this new role and join the very talented team at Ascent Solar,” Roche said. “Ascent possesses revolutionary technology that provides a compelling solar power solution for customers in key markets such as portable consumer power, aerospace and defense, transportation and off-grid power.”

Before joining Carrier, Roche was general manager of marketing and applications engineering at UTC’s UTC Power division, and led global marketing and technical sales support efforts for its commercial fuel cell and alternative energy product lines. Roche’s career at UTC Power also included international experience in engineering management, joint venture program management, new product development and product management and he is a named inventor on nine U.S. Patents. Roche holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical and materials engineering from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.