FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCE, Danbury, CT), a manufacturer of electric power generation plants, announced that it has promoted R. Daniel Brdar to President and Chief Operations Officer, while naming him to its Board of Directors. Brdar, who previously was Executive Vice President and COO, continues reporting to Chairman and CEO Jerry Leitman. Strategic Manufacturing and Government Research and Development Operations Executive Vice President Christopher Bentley, Chief Technology Officer Hansraj Maru, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joseph Mahler will continue to report to Leitman.
Brdar has been with FuelCell Energy since 2000 and has held a series of executive positions in the firm's sales, marketing, and product development organizations. Most recently, he was responsible for all manufacturing and non-manufacturing operations for the company's ultra-clean Direct Fuel Cell® products, which includes the company's commercial cost-out efforts. Under his leadership, the company has reduced product costs by 20 percent to 25 percent each year for the past two years, and expects to achieve the same results in calendar year 2005. Brdar will continue managing these areas, and assume direction of the firm's sales and marketing function.
