Acknowledging the growing potential for energy technologies and capabilities to translate into economic growth, the University of Michigan’s energy institute and its Business Engagement Center have hired an experienced business relations manager.

JP La Forest will be both a director in the U-M Business Engagement Center and manager of business development at the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute. He will work to build and strengthen partnerships, particularly those in sustainable energy.

La Forest comes to the university with broad experience in corporate relations with an emphasis on global business development. He most recently has been a senior advisor on cross-border transactions involving Asia for a New York investment banking firm and acting country director of Tenneco Korea Ltd., an auto components supplier based in Seoul.

“The future of energy innovations becoming market successes lies in strong partnerships,” said Dennis Assanis, energy institute director. “We are proud to have another experienced professional to forge productive relationships between science, industry and government. This is an exciting time to be in the energy business.”

”This joint partnership between the BEC and the University’s energy institute allows us to better connect companies with all that the university has to offer in developing talent and technologies,” said Daryl Weinert, BEC executive director.

La Forest has a master of business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering technology from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

He begins Dec. 14.