First Solar CEO and leadership

Mr. Widmar became CEO of First Solar in July 2016. He joined First Solar in April 2011 as chief financial officer and served as First Solar’s chief accounting officer from February 2012 through June 2015. Mr. Widmar has also served as a director on the board of the general partner of 8point3 Energy Partners LP (“8point3 Energy Partners”), then a publicly-traded yieldco and affiliate of First Solar. Prior to joining First Solar, Mr. Widmar served as chief financial officer of GrafTech International Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of advanced carbon and graphite materials, from May 2006 through March 2011, as well as president, Engineered Solutions from January 2011 through March 2011. Prior to joining GrafTech, Mr. Widmar served as corporate controller of NCR Inc. from 2005 to 2006, and was a business unit chief financial officer for NCR from November 2002 to his appointment as controller. He also served as a division controller at Dell, Inc. from August 2000 to November 2002 prior to joining NCR. Mr. Widmar also held various financial and managerial positions with Lucent Technologies Inc., Allied Signal, Inc., and Bristol Myers/Squibb, Inc. He began his career in 1987 as an accountant with Ernst & Young. Mr. Widmar holds a Bachelor of Science in business accounting and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana University.

Mr. Widmar became CEO of First Solar in July 2016. He joined First Solar in April 2011 as chief financial officer and served as First Solar’s chief accounting officer from February 2012 through June 2015. Mr. Widmar has also served as a director on the board of the general partner of 8point3 Energy Partners LP (“8point3 Energy Partners”), then a publicly-traded yieldco and affiliate of First Solar. Prior to joining First Solar, Mr. Widmar served as chief financial officer of GrafTech International Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of advanced carbon and graphite materials, from May 2006 through March 2011, as well as president, Engineered Solutions from January 2011 through March 2011. Prior to joining GrafTech, Mr. Widmar served as corporate controller of NCR Inc. from 2005 to 2006, and was a business unit chief financial officer for NCR from November 2002 to his appointment as controller. He also served as a division controller at Dell, Inc. from August 2000 to November 2002 prior to joining NCR. Mr. Widmar also held various financial and managerial positions with Lucent Technologies Inc., Allied Signal, Inc., and Bristol Myers/Squibb, Inc. He began his career in 1987 as an accountant with Ernst & Young. Mr. Widmar holds a Bachelor of Science in business accounting and a Masters of Business Administration from Indiana University.