Ballard Power Systems, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, has announced the appointment of Paul Dobson as senior vice-president (SVP) and chief financial officer (CFO), effective March 29, 2021.
“I am thrilled to welcome Paul to Ballard,” commented Randy MacEwen, president and CEO of Ballard. “With over 25 years of global financial, operations and leadership experience, including significant experience in the energy industry, Paul joins our executive team at an important time. I am confident that he will hit the ground running and will be a valuable business partner as we grow our business organically and pursue M&A opportunities.”
The appointment follows a comprehensive search process supported by a leading global search firm. Dobson has extensive executive-level experience in the energy and financial sectors. He currently serves on the board of directors of Methanex Corporation, the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol. He most recently served as CFO and Interim CEO of Hydro One, an electricity transmission and distribution utility serving Ontario, Canada. Previously, he held senior financial and operating roles at Direct Energy for 15 years, including as CFO and COO. Prior to that he served for 10 years at CIBC in various finance, strategy and business development roles. He holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from the Ivey Business School, Western University and is a CPA, CMA.
Paul Dobson, SVP and CFO, Ballard Power Systems
“This is an exciting time to step into the CFO role at Ballard, given the clear momentum in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry and Ballard’s leading market position,” said Dobson. “I look forward to working with Randy and the entire Ballard organization to continue executing our strategic plan, accelerate growth and deliver value to shareholders. And, on a personal note, I’m highly energized by the compelling opportunities we have in front of us to decarbonize mobility and grow the business over the coming decade.”
The company vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard’s zero-emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, passenger cars and forklift trucks.
Dobson’s predecessor, Tony Guglielmin, stated, “It’s been a privilege to serve as Ballard’s CFO. I retire with considerable confidence in Ballard’s future, with the Company well-positioned to lead in the transition to a cleaner, zero-emission world, with a very strong balance sheet. I look forward to Ballard’s ongoing success under Randy’s leadership, with a strong executive team and dedicated workforce, and to working with Paul on a smooth transition over the coming weeks.”
Added MacEwen: “On behalf of the entire Ballard organization, we thank and recognize Tony for his immense contributions to Ballard’s strategy, organizational development and market positioning over the past decade. Tony is a consummate professional with integrity and commitment to prudent financial management. He leaves the Company with a solid financial position and a dedicated finance and administration team. We wish Tony well during the next chapter of his life in retirement.”
Featured images from Ballard.
