# Michael Ahearn

> Michael J. Ahearn is the co-founder and board chair of First Solar and chair and managing partner of True North Venture Partners. A former lawyer and investment partner, he led First Solar as CEO from 2000 to 2009 and returned as interim CEO from 2011 to 2012. His career centers on commercializing industrial technologies and investing in energy, water, agriculture and waste businesses.

- **Role:** Chair of the Board at First Solar; Chair and Managing Partner at True North Venture Partners
- **Organizations:** First Solar, True North Venture Partners, JWMA / True North Partners, Gallagher & Kennedy, Cox Enterprises, Synata Bio, Endeavor (former global board member; 2020 selection panelist), Beijing Climate Policy Initiative (Global Advisory Board)
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A. in Finance, Arizona State University, J.D., Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded First Solar and led its commercialization and early expansion., Led First Solar through its 2006 Nasdaq IPO., Led First Solar when it reported module manufacturing cost of $0.98 per watt in Q4 2008.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1996** — Practiced law as a partner at Gallagher & Kennedy.
- **1996** — Became partner and president of the investment firm True North Partners, later JWMA, associated with John Walton.
- **1999** — Co-founded First Solar.
- **2000-08** — Became First Solar CEO and board chair.
- **2006** — Led First Solar through its Nasdaq IPO.
- **2009-09** — Ended his first CEO tenure; became executive chair the following month.
- **2011** — Launched True North Venture Partners with a $300 million fund.
- **2011-10** — Returned to First Solar as interim CEO.
- **2012-05** — Completed interim CEO service; James Hughes became CEO.
- **2012-07** — Began his current continuous period as non-executive chair of First Solar.
- **2026-04** — First Solar’s proxy lists him as board chair and a Technology Committee member.

## Achievements

- Co-founded First Solar and led its commercialization and early expansion.
- Led First Solar through its 2006 Nasdaq IPO.
- Led First Solar when it reported module manufacturing cost of $0.98 per watt in Q4 2008.
- Named the 2009 Dean’s Council of 100 Executive of the Year by ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business.
- Launched True North Venture Partners in 2011 with $300 million.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — First Solar’s 2026 proxy statement lists Ahearn as chair of the board and a Technology Committee member, and as chair and managing partner of True North Venture Partners.

## Links

- Website: https://www.truenorthvp.com/member/michael-j-ahearn/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-ahearn-418736b7

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-ahearn
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23