The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) has announced four additions to its management team: Robert Stoner, deputy director for science and technology; Martha Broad, executive director; Louis Carranza, associate director; and Francis O’Sullivan, director of research. The new team joins Robert Armstrong, who became the director of the Initiative after Ernest Moniz left to lead the U.S. Department of Energy last spring.
Robert Stoner, a physicist and formerly an associate director at MITEI, also co-directs the Tata Center for Technology and Design — an MIT graduate program that trains future engineering and business leaders to invent technologies that address unmet needs and challenges in India and elsewhere in the developing world. Launched by MITEI last year, the Center’s mission is to apply technology and management expertise to the challenges of the developing work in the areas of energy, agriculture, water, health and housing. Stoner is the inventor of numerous optical and electronic devices and has an extensive international business background, having held senior positions at Intel and Zygo Corporations, and founded technology companies in the U.S. and Europe. He was also an adjunct professor of engineering at Brown University from 1995 through 2002. Immediately prior to joining MIT, he served in senior roles at the Clinton Foundation in Africa and India.
“Rob understands the serious role developing nations play in our energy future and our recognized obligation to help those nations confront their energy challenges,” Armstrong says. “He also knows how to create revolutionary technologies, and what it takes to bring those technologies from the lab to the marketplace. The Initiative will no doubt benefit from Rob’s deep knowledge, innovative vision and global perspective as we map out our future priorities.”
Martha Broad comes to MIT from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), where as part of the senior management she oversaw programs and studies that led to the commercialization of various clean energy technologies. She also conceived and implemented the center’s framework for university partnerships. With her help in leveraging universities and public and private partners, MassCEC facilitated the state’s successful installation of hundreds of megawatts of wind and solar systems. Broad is not new to MIT. In addition to working with MITEI on joint initiatives, she was previously a research associate for the MIT Center for Coordination Science.
“Martha has more than 20 years of experience in the energy and sustainability field,” Armstrong says. “Given her experience managing organizations, aligning different interests and needs, forging public and private partnerships, and motivating teams at all levels, I have no doubt Martha will be an outstanding addition to MITEI and to MIT.”
Louis Carranza, the new associate director, and Francis O’Sullivan, the new director of research, join Stoner and Broad to round out the leadership team. Carranza was previously vice president for strategic development at IHS, where he worked for 17 years. There, he served as executive director and co-chair of CERAWeek — one of the top five corporate leader conferences in the world — and conceived and implemented the CERAWeek partnership program. He was also co-director of the IHS scenario planning initiative. Earlier at CERA, Carranza was responsible for managing the firm’s global power practice.
O’Sullivan has been at MITEI since its early days, most recently serving as the executive director of the Energy Sustainability Challenge and a lecturer at the Sloan School of Management. His current research focuses on solar, unconventional oil and gas resources and the energy-water nexus. O’Sullivan is a member of the National Academies’ Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability. Previously, he worked for McKinsey & Company.
“As MITEI continues to grow and strengthen, I can think of no better team to add to the Initiative’s already-outstanding staff,” Armstrong says. “Together, we will build on MITEI’s strong foundation and bold, interdisciplinary approach to deliver global energy solutions.”
Robert Stoner, a physicist and formerly an associate director at MITEI, also co-directs the Tata Center for Technology and Design — an MIT graduate program that trains future engineering and business leaders to invent technologies that address unmet needs and challenges in India and elsewhere in the developing world. Launched by MITEI last year, the Center’s mission is to apply technology and management expertise to the challenges of the developing work in the areas of energy, agriculture, water, health and housing. Stoner is the inventor of numerous optical and electronic devices and has an extensive international business background, having held senior positions at Intel and Zygo Corporations, and founded technology companies in the U.S. and Europe. He was also an adjunct professor of engineering at Brown University from 1995 through 2002. Immediately prior to joining MIT, he served in senior roles at the Clinton Foundation in Africa and India.
“Rob understands the serious role developing nations play in our energy future and our recognized obligation to help those nations confront their energy challenges,” Armstrong says. “He also knows how to create revolutionary technologies, and what it takes to bring those technologies from the lab to the marketplace. The Initiative will no doubt benefit from Rob’s deep knowledge, innovative vision and global perspective as we map out our future priorities.”
Martha Broad comes to MIT from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), where as part of the senior management she oversaw programs and studies that led to the commercialization of various clean energy technologies. She also conceived and implemented the center’s framework for university partnerships. With her help in leveraging universities and public and private partners, MassCEC facilitated the state’s successful installation of hundreds of megawatts of wind and solar systems. Broad is not new to MIT. In addition to working with MITEI on joint initiatives, she was previously a research associate for the MIT Center for Coordination Science.
“Martha has more than 20 years of experience in the energy and sustainability field,” Armstrong says. “Given her experience managing organizations, aligning different interests and needs, forging public and private partnerships, and motivating teams at all levels, I have no doubt Martha will be an outstanding addition to MITEI and to MIT.”
Louis Carranza, the new associate director, and Francis O’Sullivan, the new director of research, join Stoner and Broad to round out the leadership team. Carranza was previously vice president for strategic development at IHS, where he worked for 17 years. There, he served as executive director and co-chair of CERAWeek — one of the top five corporate leader conferences in the world — and conceived and implemented the CERAWeek partnership program. He was also co-director of the IHS scenario planning initiative. Earlier at CERA, Carranza was responsible for managing the firm’s global power practice.
O’Sullivan has been at MITEI since its early days, most recently serving as the executive director of the Energy Sustainability Challenge and a lecturer at the Sloan School of Management. His current research focuses on solar, unconventional oil and gas resources and the energy-water nexus. O’Sullivan is a member of the National Academies’ Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability. Previously, he worked for McKinsey & Company.
“As MITEI continues to grow and strengthen, I can think of no better team to add to the Initiative’s already-outstanding staff,” Armstrong says. “Together, we will build on MITEI’s strong foundation and bold, interdisciplinary approach to deliver global energy solutions.”
