Konarka Appoints Organic Electronics Veteran Dr. David Fyfe to Board of Directors

Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Konarka Power Plastic, a material that converts light to energy, today announced the company has appointed Dr. David Fyfe to its Board of Directors. Most recently, Dr. Fyfe served as chairman and chief executive officer of Cambridge Display Technology (CDT), world leader in the development of light-emitting polymer technology, acquired by Sumitomo Chemical in 2007. Dr. Fyfe will serve as an independent director on Konarka’s Board.

“David has tremendous depth of experience in the global fine chemical industry,” commented Howard Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka. “With his experience in commercializing innovative technology particularly the first printed organic display device based upon conductive polymers and bringing it to market on a large scale basis, we are extremely fortunate to have his leadership, counsel and recommendations as we begin delivering Power Plastic on a global level.”

Dr. Fyfe’s impressive career in the worldwide organic electronics industry spans 10 years. Under his leadership in 2002, CDT was awarded the UK Royal Society of Engineering’s prestigious MacRobert Gold Medal for the successful development of innovative ideas in engineering. In 2009, he was personally awarded the UK Institute of Physics Gold Medal for Business and Innovation for advancing CDT from a research company to its entrance into the inkjet printer industry and accelerating the commercialization of CDT’s technology. Prior to CDT, Dr. Fyfe was president and chief executive officer at Harris Specialty Chemicals, Inc, a private-equity funded construction chemicals company.

Currently, Dr. Fyfe is a non-executive director at both Acal Energy, developer of novel fuel cell technology and Custom Building Products, a construction chemical company. He is a member of the Advisory Board at Soligie Inc., specialists in printed electronics as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the 140-member Organic Electronics Association in Frankfurt, Germany. He has also served as a consultant to a number of venture funded companies. He has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in sciences from Cambridge University and a doctorate from London University with dissertation on electrochemical research.

“With the very promising future for organic photovoltaic technology, I look forward to advising Konarka and working closely with the world leader in the field,” commented Dr. Fyfe. “I expect my tenure at CDT in particular and my experience with many of the issues facing Konarka as it moves into commercialization of its OPV technology will aid the company in its evolution to large-scale production.”

In other Board changes, Dr. Alan Heeger, Nobel laureate chief scientist and co-founder of Konarka, is now an observer to the Board.