Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain
Officers.
On April 8, 2020, Dr. Lon E. Bell, the Chief Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board of Ideal Power Inc. (the "Company") retired as President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Dr. Bell will continue as Chairman
of the Board through the remainder of his current term.
In addition, on April 8, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") appointed R. Daniel Brdar as the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company. Mr. Brdar previously served as the BTRAN Chief Commercial
Officer of the Company. Mr. Brdar is also a member of the Board.
R. Daniel Brdar, age 60, served as BTRAN Chief Commercial Officer since April
2018. Mr. Brdar originally joined the Company in January 2014, where he served
as our Chief Executive Officer and President until April 2018 and served as
Chairman of the Board until March 2017. He has over 25 years of experience in
the power systems and energy industries and has held a variety of leadership
positions during his career. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Brdar was Chief
Operating Officer of Petra Solar Inc. from March 2011 to May 2013. From January
2006 to February 2011, Mr. Brdar was Chief Executive Officer of FuelCell Energy,
Inc., a publicly traded company. Mr. Brdar also served as President of Fuel Cell
Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL) from August 2005 to February 2011 and Chairman of the
Board of Directors from January 2007 until April 2011. Prior to his employment
with FuelCell Energy, Inc., which began in 2000, Mr. Brdar held management
positions at General Electric Power Systems from 1997 to 2000 where he focused
on new product introduction programs and was product manager for its gas turbine
technology. Mr. Brdar was Associate Director, Office of Power Systems Product
Management at the U.S. Department of Energy where he held a variety of positions
from 1988 to 1997, including directing the research, development and
demonstration of advanced power systems, including gas turbines, gasification
systems and fuel cells. Mr. Brdar received a B.S. in Engineering from the
University of Pittsburgh in 1981.
In connection with his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, the
Company and Mr. Brdar entered into a Second Revised and Restated Employment
Agreement (the "Employment Agreement"), pursuant to which Mr. Brdar will be
entitled to the same compensation and benefits he was previously entitled to as
the BTRAN Chief Commercial Officer of the Company, except he will be entitled to
severance benefits for 12 months upon a qualifying termination. The foregoing
description of the Employment Agreement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit
10.1 hereto, and is incorporated by reference herein.
As Chairman of the Board, Dr. Bell will receive the same compensation of $49,920
per year, pro-rated for the remainder of his term, as he was previously entitled
to as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
On April 14, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the above
management changes. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit
No. Description
10.1 Second Revised and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 8, 2020,
between Ideal Power Inc. and R. Daniel Brdar.
99.1 Press Release dated April 14, 2020.
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