Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC), the nation’s leading producer of hyper-pure polysilicon for the semiconductor and solar industries, announced the addition of two new leaders to its commercial team. Fahim Islam will serve as Global Solar Commercial Director and Matthew Bierman will serve as Chemical Sales Commercial Director. Both will report to Phil Rausch, Senior Vice President, Commercial.
“I’m pleased to have Fahim and Matthew join my team as we move into an exciting new era of commercial development and growth,” Rausch said. “Both individuals bring deep experience in our key market sectors and a strong understanding of our strategic direction and business imperatives.”
Fahim Islam will lead the commercialization of solar products while continuing to build HSC’s differentiated brand in the market. He will work closely with supply chain customers and end-market purchasers of solar power to develop and implement specification strategies. Additionally, he will focus on customers with application and process engineering developments, expansion of domestic content in the marketplace, and policy coordination with government affairs for U.S. domestic manufacturing expansion.
Matthew Bierman will lead the strategic growth and development of HSC’s chemical sales business. His primary responsibility will be to expand the existing electronic grade dichlorosilane and trichlorosilane sales. Bierman will also focus on establishing and expanding byproduct relationships in the chlorosilane derivatives and silicones market. Additionally, he will spearhead growth in the silicon anode market through chlorosilane and silane precursor sales.
Both directors bring extensive experience in the chemical manufacturing sector to their new roles. Islam previously served as Sr. Sales Director at Dow, where he led the North America Home and Personal Care commercial teams. He also served as Global Business Director managing the silicon metal business. He has extensive board experience having served as Chairman of the Board for Dalian DC Silicon Co., China, and as a board member for Bécancour Silicon Inc., Canada, and WVA Manufacturing LLC., USA.
Bierman previously served as Commercial and R&D Director at TexPower, where he led Sales, Marketing and R&D teams for a promising lithium-ion battery company and led the commercialization of their battery cathode materials. He also served as Senior Market Manager at Dow, managing a $300 million sales and innovation portfolio and driving adoption of new products in varied technology areas.
Islam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University. He has also completed executive education programs at Columbia Business School and McKinsey & Company.
Bierman holds a doctorate in materials chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed his postdoctoral research in photoelectrochemistry at the California Institute of Technology. He has extensive experience in new business development, market analysis and strategic leadership.
