Proton Mtr Pwr Regulatory News (PPS)

30 Jul 2008 07:00

Proton Power Systems plc

("Proton Power" or "the Group")

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer 

The Board of Proton Power Systems plc (AIM: PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Thomas Melczer as its new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

Thomas, 49, has 30 years of global experience in the power sector with particular expertise in back-up power.  In June 2007 he became CEO of SPower Holding GmbH, a provider and integrator of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) products, diesel generators, solar systems and batteries for global markets. Prior to this he was Managing Director of Masterguard GmbH, a specialist provider of UPS products and services for critical power protection worldwide. Masterguard was a subsidiary of Siemens until 1998, when he led the demerger of Masterguard into an independent entity. After bringing Masterguard into profitability Melczer headed the negotiations which led to its acquisition in 2000 by AIM-quoted Chloride Group plc. Since then Thomas also served as Vice President of International Sales for the enlarged group's UPS Systems Division, in addition to continuing as Managing Director of Masterguard until June 2007.

Thomas spent the first 20 years of his career at Siemens AG, starting as a business trainee and rising to Managing Director of Siemens' Component Power Supply Division in Leipzig. Prior to this he was Director of Finance for the Telecommunication Cable and Network Systems divisions in Munich and held various managerial and finance positions for Siemens in the US, Mexico and North Africa.

Commenting on the appointment John Wall, Chairman of Proton Power, said: "I am excited to be welcoming Thomas to Proton Power. He brings a wealth of industry experience which will be of significant value to the Group. I look forward to working alongside him as we drive the Group forward and maximise the growing opportunities ahead.

"We thank Felix Heidelberg for fourteen years of undoubted board level commitment and look forward to working with him in his new role as Chief Technology Officer of the Group's subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH."

On his appointment Thomas Melczer comments: "I am delighted to join Proton Power as CEO. I look forward to working with the Group's dedicated team to further develop production capability and to sell its products to a wider customer base, whilst moving Proton Power from a technology development company to a cash-generating business.  This is an interesting time for the fuel cell and systems industry, as demand for its products is being driven by ever-increasing energy prices and environmental legislation. I believe that this presents Proton with a genuine window of opportunity in a dynamic global market."

- ENDS -

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Appendix One:

In accordance with Schedule 2(g) and rule 17 of the AIM Rules for Companies, the following information in relation to the appointment of Mr Thomas Melczer is disclosed below: 

Thomas Melczer, aged 49, holds and has held within the five preceding years the following directorships and partnerships:

Notes to Editors 

Proton Power Systems plc is a developer of fuel cells and fuel cell hybrid systems for motive and back-up power supply. Proton Power has more than 14 years of experience in the fuel cell market. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, the Company has developed and produced a fuel cell module running on hydrogen and integrated this with an energy storage system to create a hybrid electric fuel cell system. The system harnesses the excess power generated by the fuel cell during partial load (such as stop-start operations) and uses the stored energy in peak demand times. The system thus boasts lower fuel consumption and more consistent levels of power delivery than conventional combustion engine or fuel cell-only systems, in addition to producing zero harmful emissions.

Proton Power's market focus lies in industrial applications where 'back-to-base' refuelling occurs at the end of each shift or work period, such as in the materials handling and mass transportation sectors. In these markets, the commercialisation of applications is possible at a very early stage, as they do not depend on the existence of a ubiquitous hydrogen infrastructure. Through partnerships with leading OEMs such as Skoda Electric and Karmann, Proton Power's technology is already deployed in city buses and forklift trucks.

Proton Power also targets the upcoming market for marine transportation applications and provides the hybrid fuel cell propulsion system for Europe's first fuel-cell powered passenger / river boat ferry, which will be operating in Hamburg from 2008. 

Proton Power Systems plc was admitted to trading on AIM on 31 October 2006 and is incorporated in the UK. Its operating subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, is located in Puchheim, near Munich, Germany.