Rudy Schlais Joins Viryd Technologies’ Board of Directors
CEDAR PARK, Texas--Viryd Technologies Inc. (Viryd), a wind turbine technology company dedicated to improving drivetrain technology, today announced the addition of Rudolph (Rudy) A. Schlais Jr. to its Board of Directors. As the sixth director, he joins Viryd as the company prepares for testing of its Viryd 8000 turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory under a grant awarded earlier this year from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“As Viryd accelerates the development of its game-changing wind turbine technology, we are in a position to penetrate the growing small-wind market here in the United States and abroad,” said John Langdon, CEO of Viryd Technologies. “Rudy brings insight into global markets and distribution channels and will be instrumental as we bring Viryd turbines to market.”
With decades of senior level management expertise, Mr. Schlais is executive chairman for China Auto Electronics Group Limited, one of the largest global suppliers of vehicle electrical/electronics distribution systems worldwide. Prior to this appointment, he served as company president and CEO, and facilitated its listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) in 2007. Previously, Mr. Schlais spent more than 42 years in various senior management roles at General Motors in component and vehicle operations, capped by his role as president and CEO of General Motors Asia Pacific. In that position, he negotiated and led GM’s first Chinese vehicle operations, the Daewoo asset acquisition which became GMDAT, and contributed to GM’s success in capturing market share in the Asia Pacific market.
Recently, Mr. Schlais has focused increasingly on technology investments, serving as a limited partner of Greenbriar Equity Partners LP, an executive advisory partner of Windpoint Equity LP and an LP and advisor to Key Principal Partner Equity Funds. He is also chairman of the newly formed, Shanghai-based ASL Management and Consulting Company, and a founding general partner and director of ASL Partners, a developing private equity fund focused on global Chinese manufacturing companies.
Mr. Schlais is a graduate of Youngstown State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also attended Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck Business School Executive Program. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Youngstown State University.
About Viryd
Viryd is a clean-technology manufacturing and development company dedicated to improving the performance and production of energy from wind turbines. Created initially as a subsidiary of Fallbrook Technologies Inc., Viryd became an independent company in 2007. Viryd’s initial products include innovative wind turbine drivetrains and complete small wind turbines based on Fallbrook’s patented and award-winning NuVinci® technology. Viryd is headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas. To learn more about Viryd, please visit www.viryd.com