ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. announces appointment of Gerald A. Hooper to Board of Directors


CAMBRIDGE, ON, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. today
announced the appointment of Gerald A. Hooper, FCA, to the Company's Board of
Directors. He will also serve on the Company's Audit and Finance Committee of
the Board.
Mr. Hooper is Chairman of the Board of The Economical Insurance Group,
one of the largest property and casualty insurers in Canada. He recently
retired from a distinguished 19-year career at Schneider Foods -- a leading
producer of premium quality food products -- where he served as Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, as well as a member of the Board of
Directors of Schneider Corporation. Prior to joining Schneider Foods, Mr.
Hooper was a partner at what is now KPMG. He has been a Chartered Accountant
since 1970 and was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
of Ontario in 2003. Mr. Hooper is also actively involved in Kitchener-Waterloo
where he serves on a number of community boards and committees.
"Gerry brings over 30 years of financial, strategic, operating and
governance experience to ATS and we are confident that his unique skills and
substantial knowledge will add even greater depth and expertise to our Board,"
said Larry Tapp, Chairman of the Board of ATS. "We believe Gerry will make an
outstanding contribution to ATS for many years to come."
Mr. Hooper joins an experienced Board that includes Mr. Tapp, former Dean
of the Richard Ivey School of Business; William Biggar, Managing Director of
Richardson Capital Limited; Richard Campbell, President of Seacoast Consulting
and a former senior executive of Black & Decker; Robert Ferchat, retired
Chairman and CEO of Bell Mobility; Peter Janson, former Chairman and CEO of
the North American Operations of AMEC Inc.; Robert Luba, President of Luba
Financial Inc. and previously, President and CEO of Royal Bank Investment
Management; and, Ron Jutras, President and CEO of ATS.

About ATS
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (www.atsautomation.com) is the
industry's leading designer and producer of turn-key automated manufacturing
and test systems, which are used primarily by multinational corporations
operating in a variety of industries including: healthcare, automotive,
computer/electronics and consumer products. ATS is also an emerging leader in
the rapidly growing market for solar energy cells and modules. The Company
also makes precision components and subassemblies using its process knowledge
and automation technology. ATS employs approximately 4,000 people at 26
manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia-
Pacific. The Company's shares are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under
the symbol ATA.
%SEDAR: 00002017E

For further information: Carl Galloway, VP Treasurer, Gerry Beard, VP,
CFO, (519) 653-6500

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