CAMBRIDGE, ON, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. todayannounced the appointment of Gerald A. Hooper, FCA, to the Company's Board ofDirectors. He will also serve on the Company's Audit and Finance Committee ofthe Board.
Mr. Hooper is Chairman of the Board of The Economical Insurance Group,one of the largest property and casualty insurers in Canada. He recentlyretired from a distinguished 19-year career at Schneider Foods -- a leadingproducer of premium quality food products -- where he served as Executive VicePresident and Chief Financial Officer, as well as a member of the Board ofDirectors of Schneider Corporation. Prior to joining Schneider Foods, Mr.Hooper was a partner at what is now KPMG.
He has been a Chartered Accountantsince 1970 and was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountantsof Ontario in 2003. Mr. Hooper is also actively involved in Kitchener-Waterloowhere he serves on a number of community boards and committees. "Gerry brings over 30 years of financial, strategic, operating andgovernance experience to ATS and we are confident that his unique skills andsubstantial 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 anoutstanding contribution to ATS for many years to come." Mr. Hooper joins an experienced Board that includes Mr.
Tapp, former Deanof the Richard Ivey School of Business; William Biggar, Managing Director ofRichardson Capital Limited; Richard Campbell, President of Seacoast Consultingand a former senior executive of Black & Decker; Robert Ferchat, retiredChairman and CEO of Bell Mobility; Peter Janson, former Chairman and CEO ofthe North American Operations of AMEC Inc.; Robert Luba, President of LubaFinancial Inc. and previously, President and CEO of Royal Bank InvestmentManagement; and, Ron Jutras, President and CEO of ATS.
About ATS
ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. ( www.atsautomation.com ) is theindustry's leading designer and producer of turn-key automated manufacturingand test systems, which are used primarily by multinational corporationsoperating in a variety of industries including: healthcare, automotive,computer/electronics and consumer products. ATS is also an emerging leader inthe rapidly growing market for solar energy cells and modules.
The Companyalso makes precision components and subassemblies using its process knowledgeand automation technology. ATS employs approximately 4,000 people at 26manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The Company's shares are traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange underthe symbol ATA.
