GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Names New Leader of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Business
WILMINGTON, N.C.—October 28, 2009—GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) today announced the appointment of Kevin Walsh as senior vice president of GEH’s global nuclear fuel cycle operations and CEO of Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), the nuclear fuel joint venture of GE, Hitachi and Toshiba.
Walsh succeeds Lisa Price, who was named general manager of corporate business development for GE in China, effective October 19. Walsh, a 25-year GE veteran, has served as senior vice president for nuclear services for the past three years.
In his new role, Walsh assumes leadership of all nuclear fuel cycle activities for GEH and GNF, which includes boiling water reactor fuel fabrication, mixed oxide (MOX) fuel design and component supply, fuel engineering services, advanced reactor and fuel recycling technologies, uranium enrichment and isotopes.
GNF operates fuel fabrication facilities in Wilmington and Kurihama, Japan, and also has a European BWR fuel joint venture with Enusa Industrias Avanzadas, S.A. (ENUSA) of Spain.
“Kevin’s extensive experience in nuclear plant services and his engineering background make him ideally suited to lead our fuel cycle operations today, when a growing number of countries are turning to nuclear power to help address their pressing energy needs and low-carbon emissions priorities,” said Jack Fuller, GEH’s president and CEO.
Walsh’s near-term priorities include:
•Overseeing the Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) test loop project. •Continuing to shepherd GEH’s development of its proposed Generation IV PRISM reactor and Advanced Recycling Center (ARC) as the federal government works to develop a new national strategy for managing used nuclear fuel. •Continuing GNF’s development of a new fuel tailored to GEH’s next-generation Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), which is progressing in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s design certification review. After joining GE Energy in 1984 as a field engineer, Walsh was promoted to more senior positions in GE Energy’s services business. Those positions included general manager-operations for contractual services in 1998, general manager-performance services for installation and field services in 2000 and leader of GE Energy’s field services team for three years prior to joining the nuclear business.
During his tenure with GE Energy, Walsh worked closely with GE’s Schenectady steam turbine-generator factory and GE’s flagship Global Research Center (GRC) in Niskayuna, N.Y. Walsh earned a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He will continue to act as leader of GEH’s services business until a successor is named, Fuller said.
In her new role in China, Price will be responsible for leading and growing GE’s business development center of excellence based in Shanghai to support GE’s inorganic growth initiatives and drive mergers and acquisitions in China.
During her tenure, Price had numerous key accomplishments, including developing an integrated nuclear fuel cycle strategy, securing the first MOX fuel initial core order for GNF-Japan, and overseeing the start-up of GLE’s test loop and submission of GLE’s license application to the NRC for a proposed commercial enrichment facility.
Price also helped lead GEH’s efforts on Capitol Hill to position GEH’s ARC concept as an option for helping the federal government establish a new strategy for managing used nuclear fuel.
“We will miss Lisa,” Fuller said, “yet her new business development role is an incredible opportunity, both personally and professionally, that will allow her to utilize her business development talents and operations background to grow opportunities for GE in China.”
About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in June 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety.
For more information, contact: Ned Glascock GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy +1 910 819 5729 [email protected]
A personalised tool to help users track selected stocks. Delivering real-time notifications on price updates, announcements, and performance stats on each to help make informed investment decisions.
(20min delay)