Konarka Appoints Dr. James Buntaine EVP, CTO

Konarka Technologies, Inc. announced the company has named Dr. James R. Buntaine as executive vice president and chief technology officer. Reporting directly to Howard Berke, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Konarka, Dr. Buntaine will lead the company’s technology creation and product development team. He joins Konarka after more than 30 years of successful technical leadership at Eastman Kodak Company.

“Jim has developed broad and deep experience in leadership of applied research, advanced technology development, IP strategy and product commercialization in the fields of printing, coating, materials, devices and systems during his decades at Eastman Kodak,” said Berke. “We are fortunate to have him apply his leadership skills, as well as his extensive experience in developing business-to-business relationships to produce joint technologies and successful products to further the deployment of Konarka’s Power Plastic.”

Dr. Buntaine joined Eastman Kodak in 1980 in the Solid State Chemistry Laboratory. After holding many leadership positions within Kodak, he moved to the Display and Components Business Unit as technology director in 2004, where he repurposed Kodak’s coating machines for non-photographic applications. From 2007-2009, he served as CTO of Kodak’s OLED Systems Business, ultimately leading to the OLED Business sale to the LG Group. Most recently, he was CTO of the Graphics Prepress and Packaging Business responsible for new technology creation, commercialization and external technology collaborations. He also developed an extensive IP portfolio while at Kodak.

From 2005-2009, Dr. Buntaine served on the Board of Directors for the FlexTech Alliance, an organization dedicated to the growth and profitability of the electronic display and flexible, printed electronics supply chain. He holds a bachelor’s degree with double major in chemistry and mathematics at Clark University, a doctorate degree in inorganic chemistry from Cornell University, and is a program graduate of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

“Konarka has been a technology leader in the organic photovoltaic market with their unique Power Plastic material and device technologies,” commented Dr. Buntaine. “I am eager to further the company’s technology and product leadership positions over both the short- and long-term.”