Drew Buckley has been appointed as the new CEO of ESS, a company specializing in long-duration energy storage solutions. Buckley, who joined the firm in August, previously held a prominent role as a partner at William Blair for 17 years, focusing on technology investments. His leadership is expected to guide the company through its next phase of growth.
In other corporate developments, Uwem Ukpong transitions to the role of VP of AWS Industries at Amazon, having served as vice president of Global Services for over four years. His background includes a lengthy tenure at Schlumberger, enhancing his experience in technology.
Additionally, Alicia Teel has stepped into the acting director position at the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, after serving as deputy director. Teel aims to promote economic opportunities and innovation within the city, succeeding Markham McIntyre, who held the position for four years.
Furthermore, Manik Gupta, the corporate VP of Microsoft Teams, has announced his departure from the company. After joining Microsoft in 2021, he plans to explore new opportunities in the AI sector, emphasizing the importance of transforming AI models into practical applications.