PowerCo SE has appointed HW Vassen as its new Chief Technology Officer and member of the Board of Management, effective August 1, 2024. The decision was approved by the Supervisory Board of PowerCo SE. Vassen, who is currently the Head of Series Development at PowerCo, played a key role in the development of the company’s unified cell, which is set to begin mass production in 2025. In his new position as CTO, Vassen will oversee technology and product development, as well as testing and analytics at PowerCo SE. He will be replacing Soonho Ahn, who is stepping down at the end of July and will serve as an advisor to Volkswagen Group in the future.
Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo SE, expressed gratitude to Ahn for his contributions in building up the technology department and laying the foundation for future success with the unified cell. Blome stated that Ahn’s efforts have been instrumental in positioning PowerCo as a sustainable and competitive battery company. Blome also noted that Vassen is an ideal successor given his key role in developing the unified cell and his international experience in battery development. Under Vassen’s leadership, PowerCo SE aims to strengthen its technological capabilities and innovation.
Vassen has been with PowerCo SE since mid-2023 as Head of Series Development prior to that he worked in China for six years overseeing battery cells and systems development at Volkswagen Group China. Born in 1972, he studied electrical engineering at RWTH Aachen University and has been with Volkswagen Group since 1999.
Soonho Ahn holds a PhD in electrochemistry for battery applications from Auburn University in the United States. He has been instrumental in building up the technology department at PowerCo SE since 2022 following his role as Global Head of Battery Development at Apple. For more updates on batteries read Batteries News.
