Ex-chief of Hoku heads cleaning company

Former Hoku Corp. CEO Scott Paul has taken over the top job at Kleenco Corp., a Hono­lulu-based commercial cleaning and janitorial company.

Paul left Hoku in June as the local solar energy company struggled with a money-losing investment in a polysilicon plant in Idaho.

Paul acquired a controlling interest in Kleenco and began serving as its CEO on Jan. 7, according to a news release from the company. Paul took over from Kleenco owner and president Dan Perry, who will stay on with the company during the transition period.

Founded in Hono­lulu in 1972, Kleenco specializes in commercial, industrial and institutional cleaning for public and private organizations across the state.

Paul served in various executive roles at Hoku from 2003 until his departure in 2012. He had served as CEO from 2010.

ON THE MOVE

Finance Factors has hired Bill Grant as a business development manager at its downtown branch. He has more than 23 years of experience including senior home equity specialist at Bank of Hawaii, and positions at Meridian Funding, Washing Mutual Bank, New America Financial and Champion Credit Corp.

U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono has announced the following additions to her Hawaii U.S. Senate staff: 

» Betsy Lin as chief of staff. She managed Hirono’s U.S. Senate campaign and served as chief of staff for Hirono at the U.S. House of Representatives.

» Jadine Nielsen as acting state director. Her experience includes serving as finance chairwoman for Hirono’s U.S. Senate campaign, presidential transition search manager in the White House during the Clinton administration, chief of staff at the U.S. Small Business Administration and deputy to the chairman at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.