WattStopper announced the resignation of its current president, Jerry Mix, and the immediate appointment of Dean Pournaras in that position. Mix will be joining Finelite as Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2012.

Co-founder of WattStopper, Mix has provided extraordinary vision and leadership throughout the past 28 years. His contributions to both the company and the lighting controls industry are countless, including the development of many industry-first product innovations as well as spearheading recognition of lighting controls as a reliable and effective energy efficiency technology. Under his leadership, WattStopper evolved from a startup to a $120+ million company offering comprehensive energy efficient lighting control solutions for commercial and residential applications. Mix currently sits on the advisory board of the California Lighting Technology Center, as well as the boards of Finelite, ETM Tailored Power Subsystems, and Finis. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona.

Pournaras has been a member of the WattStopper management team for the past seven years. Moving into the position of President from his current position as VP of Sales and Marketing, he has held positions as VP Operations and Marketing. Prior to joining WattStopper in 2004, Pournaras was with Legrand/Pass & Seymour for 15 years, serving in a number of director level sales and marketing roles that included the retail and electrical distribution channels. Pournaras is a graduate of St. Mary’s College and earned his MBA from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.

WattStopper (www.wattstopper.com), a Legrand group brand, is a leading manufacturer of energy efficient lighting controls for commercial and residential use. We help customers find convenient ways to save energy, meet green initiatives, and comply with energy codes with our comprehensive range of products, programs, and services. Legrand (www.legrandelectric.com ), located in Limoges, France, is the world specialist in products and systems for electrical installations and information networks, offering solutions for use in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.