Lighting firm hires new CEO

SARASOTA — Sunovia Energy Technologies, a financially troubled LED lighting firm, has hired its third CEO in less than two years.

The new top executive is Mel Interiano, who was most recently a sales manager and business development executive at Orsam Sylvania, a prominent light bulb and light materials company.

Interiano replaces Erich Hofer, who was named interim CEO in January. Hofer meanwhile, replaced Art Buckland, who was hired in August 2010 to lead a shift in the company from solar lights to light emitting diodes, or LEDs. The solar strategy was unsuccessful, and the firm ultimately reported $70 million in losses over four years.

“I am very excited about Sunovia's proprietary Aimed Optics product lines, and see vast short- and long-term opportunities to expand and diversify the company's product offering,” Interiano says in a press release.

In the release announcing Interiano's appointment, Sunovia also says Patricia Meringer, the firm's general counsel, resigned her position on the firm's board of directors. Meringer was named chairwoman of the board Feb. 21. She remains the firm's general counsel.

Sunovia, publicly traded (symbol: SUNV) lost $820,000 in the 2011 third quarter, the most recent earnings release.