Energy Recovery has announced that its Board of Directors has selected current Chairman and Interim President and CEO, Mr. Robert Yu Lang Mao, as President and CEO of Energy Recovery. Mr. Mao will continue to serve as Chairman of the Company’s Board. In addition, the Board elected Ms. Pamela Tondreau as Lead Independent Director.
“The Board conducted a thorough search process and met with many highly qualified candidates. It became apparent throughout this process that Mr. Mao is the right leader to steer Energy Recovery during this time of evolution for the Company,” said Ms. Tondreau. “Mr. Mao’s extensive global experience, track record of incubating and commercializing new technologies and business segments, and his vision for the Company was unrivaled. Above all, he understands what companies need to evolve and innovate.”
Mr. Mao has a long and distinguished professional career with over thirty years of executive experience in the technology and telecommunications industry in Asia, the United States and Europe. Most recently, he served as the Chairman, China Region for Hewlett-Packard Company (Hewlett-Packard) and the CEO of 3Com Corporation (3Com), where he completed the sale of 3Com to Hewlett-Packard in 2010. Prior to 3Com Corporation, Mr. Mao worked for Nortel Networks as CEO of the company’s Greater China operations from 1997 to 2006. A member of Energy Recovery’s Board since 2010, Mr. Mao has served as Chairman since 2019 and has been on the board of directors of other public companies including 3Com, Yulon-Nissan Motor Company and Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. Ltd (Foxconn).
“Mr. Mao’s experience in leading companies at the intersection of technology and manufacturing is a perfect fit for where we are today, and most importantly, where we are heading,” said Ole Peter Lorentzen, Director and Chair of the Company’s Nominating and Governance Committee. “He is a thoughtful leader who is focused on developing our team as well as our technology. We are confident that Mr. Mao continuing as Chairman, President and CEO and Ms. Tondreau acting as Lead Independent Director will position Energy Recovery for an exciting future.”
Ms. Tondreau currently serves as a consultant to Infineon Technologies AG, which purchased Cypress Semiconductor Corporation on April 16, 2020. She most recently served as Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary and Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Cypress Semiconductor. Prior to her role at Cypress Semiconductor, Ms. Tondreau served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Hewlett-Packard, where she led a multibillion dollar acquisition and integration, the overhaul of intellectual property licensing, and negotiation with multiple commercial partners on a variety of commercial and legal issues. She joined Energy Recovery’s Board in 2019.
The appointments of Mr. Mao and Ms. Tondreau were approved by the Board at its quarterly meeting on May 5, 2020 and are effective immediately.
