The experienced industry leader, with over 35 years of experience in the energy sector, has joined SMA Australia’s leadership team to further build on the successful growth and innovation of large scale projects in Australia and New Zealand
SMA Australia, a leading specialist in photovoltaic and storage system technology solutions, has appointed John Alexander as Vice President (VP) of Large Scale Australia.
John Alexander was most recently the Chief Operating Officer of 5B, an Australian large-scale solar company (OEM). Prior to 5B, he held key leadership positions at a range of influential companies, including Executive General Manager with Cleanpeak Energy and Chief Operating Officer with Pangaea Resources.
As VP of Large-Scale Australia, John will strengthen SMA’s market presence as an industry leader, with strong focus on deploying state-of-the-art grid-forming inverters, enabling BESS operators multi-purpose functionality, making them even more competitive and suitable for various grid applications. With SMA at the forefront of this transformation, this work will pave the way to net zero emissions while maintaining a stable power grid.
John said he is thrilled by the opportunity to join SMA Australia’s dynamic team and contribute to its mission of revolutionising the renewable energy landscape.
“For more than 40 years SMA has been a pioneer of innovation in the renewable energy sector,” said John. “I’m honoured to play a part in that journey by driving growth in the large-scale sector in the ANZ market and working with the team to continue their goal of making renewable energy as accessible as possible.”
Doris Spielthenner, SMA Australia’s Managing Director, said John is the perfect candidate to further develop and drive the success of SMA Australia’s large-scale division.
"Given his depth of experience and industry knowledge, we know that John will be a perfect fit for our leadership team. The large-scale division is essential to driving growth and innovation throughout the sector, and John’s impressive track record in the renewable energy industry makes him the perfect candidate for the job.”
John also holds a Bachelor's degree in Rural Science and a Postgraduate degree in Business Management, Econometrics, Marketing, and Corporate Law. Before transitioning to the energy sector, John specialised in project finance culminating as Australian Head of Utilities for NM Rothschild, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the corporate and funding landscapes.
SMA is committed to driving innovation that sets the standard for the global energy supply of tomorrow. As VP of Large Scale Australia, John Alexander will join an accomplished leadership team focused on transforming the renewable energy sector to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.