Light Bites: What’s happening with lighting personnel — March 1, 2023

This week, we note some surprising news from Current’s executive suite, while Signify gains a new regional business unit leader, and the Light and Health Research Center seeks new talent.

Current appoints interim leader

On Monday, Feb. 27, Current sent a brief media announcement noting that Manish Bhandari would depart as CEO of the commercial & industrial lighting and controls company effective immediately.

Bhandari joined Current in late 2019 from Emerson’s Chloride Industrial Power business after Current’s acquisition by American Industrial Partners (AIP) and the departure of executive Maryrose Sylvester. Under Bhandari, the company navigated business through the pandemic, with notable activities including the sale of its smart cities platform; the Hubbell C&I Lighting acquisition and integration, while also launching its 365DisInFx germicidal ultraviolet product line.

Details on the CEO transition were light as the company preempted questions early this week, but a representative for Current noted that there would be no other changes to the executive team at this time. The company is seeking a new CEO while board member William (Bill) Tolley will serve as interim CEO. Tolley previously held senior executive roles at Hubbell, Inc. and serves on the boards of several engineering and power solutions organizations.

Signify enlists former Schneider executive

Signify recently announced that Nico van der Merwe, formerly Schneider Electric vice president for Home & Distribution UK and Ireland (UK&I), has joined the lighting giant as CEO for Signify UK&I. Van der Merwe spent 15 years at Schneider implementing new business strategies. He has deep experience in international business, having worked in sales, marketing, and general management roles in several global organizations. He will be based in Guildford, U.K.

“Signify is a company with a rich heritage, a powerful product portfolio, a talented team, and a strong leadership position in sustainability,” van der Merwe said. “I am sure we are well positioned to further grow the business and industry while continuing to make a positive impact on society and the environment through our innovations. The U.K. and Ireland have exciting opportunities in the market for us and our customers.”

Join a leading lighting research lab

The Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine has an opening for a lighting engineer at its Albany, N.Y. laboratory facility. The lab research position will be responsible for independently conducted experiments, assisting with research outcomes as well as clerical and supply duties for the lab. Interested parties should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, lighting, or a related science field, and two-plus years of experience in a research environment.

“Mount Sinai’s Light and Health Research Center laboratory continues to grow, making real progress in putting optical radiation in the spotlight as a technology that can improve patient health and wellbeing,” research program director Jennifer Brons said. “The team is looking to reinforce their engineering capabilities to support that important effort and welcome enquiries from those who are technically inclined and want to make a difference in people’s lives.”

View the full job description and requirements on the Mount Sinai careers website. For more information, contact Jennifer Brons.

CARRIE MEADOWS is managing editor of LEDs Magazine, with 20-plus years’ experience in business-to-business publishing across technology markets including solid-state technology manufacturing, fiberoptic communications, machine vision, lasers and photonics, and LEDs and lighting.

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