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