WACKER Polysilicon North America Under New Leadership

Ken Collins head of Polysilicon USA and Charleston site announced retirement from Wacker Chemical Corporation.

Stephan Fellner assumed role of head of Polysilicon USA and Charleston site.

WACKER Polysilicon, site management and engineering functions will be consolidated in the NCA.

Charleston, Tenn. , Oct 21, 2025

Effective October 1, 2025, Stephan Fellner assumed the role of head of Polysilicon USA and the Charleston site, succeeding Ken Collins, who will retire from WACKER on October 31, 2025.

Stephan Fellner joined WACKER in 2007. He has held various positions of increasing responsibility in the company and effective October 1, 2025, succeeded Ken Collins as the head of site management in Charleston, Tennessee and oversees consolidated engineering functions in the United States. (Photo: Wacker Chemical Corporation)

“We sincerely thank Ken for his contributions to the Charleston site,” said Chris Kowitz, president and CEO of Wacker Chemical Corporation. “Under his leadership, we have strengthened our safety culture, expanded our community presence with the installation of Wacker Commons at the PIE Center in Cleveland, Tenn., and supported the site’s growth from polysilicon production to also manufacturing HDK^{^®} pyrogenic silica. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Fellner brings a wealth of international experience, having worked for industry leaders such as BASF and RHODIA in several countries before joining WACKER in 2007. At WACKER, he has gained hands-on experience across all business divisions and regions and has led Polysilicon engineering since 2021.

Ken Collins joined Wacker Chemical Corporation in August 2021 as head of site management in Charleston, Tennessee. His last day with the company is October 31, 2025. (Photo: Wacker Chemical Corporation)

“Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with outstanding teams who have driven important changes in WACKER’s organization and business,” said Fellner. “I am excited to build on the strong foundation that Ken and the Charleston team have established—enhancing our safety culture, driving production excellence, and strengthening trust in our brand and reputation within the community.”

Since 2016, Wacker-Charleston has produced polysilicon, and in 2019, the site began manufacturing HDK^{^®}. Today, Wacker-Charleston stands as the company’s only fully integrated production site in North America.