Atom Power, a pioneer in digital circuit breaker technology, said Wednesday that Bharat Vats will succeed founder Ryan Kennedy as CEO.
Kennedy, who co-founded the business out of research started at UNC Charlotte, will become “chief evangelist” for the company and contribute his engineering skills, according to the company.
Vats has worked in leadership posts at several big companies, including PARC Xerox, General Electric, IBM, and Danaher Corporation, according to a release.
Atom Power raised $100M from South Korea’s SK group in late 2022, and last year received a $1.2 million Job Development Incentive Grant from North Carolina, pending investment of $4.2 million and hiring of 225 employees over the next 12 years. The company has completed EV charging installations for Duke Energy, Pepsi Frito-Lay and other companies.
“Atom Power is leading the way with breakthrough smart solid-state circuit breaker technology and applying it to a market that is set for mass adoption in the years to come,” said Vats in the release.
Vats has “exceptional leadership skills, strategic insights, and deep industry knowledge” that make him the ideal choice to lead Atom Power, Ian Huh, an Atom Power director, said in the release. “Under his guidance, we are confident that Atom Power will reach new heights and create lasting value for all stakeholders.”
Vats’ vision involves expanding Atom Power’s platform of solid-state circuit breakers and cloud software to benefit from emerging energy and utility industry opportunities.
The company has about 100 employees, most in Huntersville and at a lab in the Raleigh-Durham area.