peHUB has learned that Richard Kauffman has resigned as president and CEO of Good Energies, a multi-billion dollar firm that invests in renewable energy on behalf of the Cofra Group.
In an email sent this morning to friends and colleagues, Kauffman did not give a specific reason for his decision. His immediate plans are to teach a glass on renewable energy this fall at Yale, while continuing to serve as chairman of the board at Levi Strauss & Co. He did not mention yesterday’s resignation of Good Energies chief operating officer Hugh Frater, who has agreed to become CEO of Berkadia Commercial Mortgage.
The timing of both resignations could be coincidental, but it would be a hell of a coincidence. A firm spokesman declined comment, but said he would try to put me in touch with a Good Energies executive later today.
What follows is a copy of Kauffman’s email:
After nearly four years at Good Energies, I have decided to step down as CEO and President. I am proud to have helped build Good Energies into one of the leaders in renewable energy investing and to have worked with a team of talented, mission-driven professionals.
I intend to remain in the sustainability field and hope to find a role consistent with the opportunity.
As I have worked for nearly 30 years without a break, I will try to take a couple of months off.
However, I will continue to speak and write on the obstacles to adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency. I have taken the liberty of attaching my latest piece, a short article that will appear in a forthcoming book published by the Yale School of Forestry, that addresses why we don’t have more renewable energy in the U.S. In this regard, I have gotten more involved with the work of the Coalition for Green Energy which is promoting a U.S. Government sponsored entity that will help finance renewable energy where the private sector cannot.
In the meantime, I will also remain Chairman of the Board of Levi Strauss and will continue to work with the managements of a couple of smaller renewable energy companies. I will also be teaching a class in renewable energy investing at Yale in the fall.
Thanks for your collegiality, friendship and support.
-Richard L. Kauffman
August 13th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
[...] Thursday CEO Richard Kauffman resigned as president and CEO of Good Energies, peHUB was first to report, citing an email sent to friends and [...]