Clive Beddoe, who helped carve WestJet Airlines (TSX:WJA) into Canada's second-largest carrier, is stepping down as chief executive of the discount airline.
"It's not an exit, it's a transition," the 61-year-old Beddoe said after announcing he will pass the CEO reins to Sean Durfy on Sept. 4. Durfy took over the president's job at WestJet last September.
Beddoe says he won't be flying into the sunset and will remain as executive chairman, with input into the Calgary carrier's strategic decisions.
He was the principal founder of WestJet in February 1996, with 200 employees and three aircraft flying to five destinations in Western Canada. WestJet has since grown to 66 aircraft flying to 64 destinations in 12 countries.
Beddoe says he will focus his attention on real estate interests and a plastics manufacturing company he owns.
Richard Ascione has been appointed interim chief scientific officer of ViRexx Medical Corp. (TSX:VIR; Amex:REX). He comes from the National Institute of Health, where he was as deputy director of laboratory molecular oncology.
In other company moves, vice-president Michael Stewart has resigned, bringing to five the number of senior managers who have left this year since a group of ViRexx shareholders initiated corporate changes.
ViRexx is an Edmonton-based biotechnology company focused on therapies for the treatment of certain cancers and chronic viral infections.
MGM Energy Corp. (TSX:MGX) has appointed Rick Miller as CFO, replacing Bernard Lee. Miller was most recently VP of finance and CFO of Wave Energy Ltd. MGM Energy is a Calgary-based oil and natural gas exploration and development company with operations in Northern Canada.
Petrowest Energy Services Trust (TSX: PRW.UN) has named Keith Hudson as VP, business development and officer of Petrowest. Hudson brings more than 25 years of financial, commercial and business development experience in the oil and gas industry. Petrowest provides pre-drilling and post-completion energy and civil infrastructure services. Its corporate office is in Grande Prairie.
TVI Pacific Inc. (TSX:TVI) has appointed Joseph Bronneberg as vice-president of finance and chief financial officer. Bronneberg has more than 25 years of experience in senior financial positions with a number of major natural resource companies. TVI Pacific is focused on exploring for and producing precious and base metals within district-scale systems in Asia. Its corporate office is in Calgary.
ReMac Zinc Corp. (TSXV:RMZ) has appointed Bruce Briggs, P.Eng., to the position of president. Briggs, who is also president of Redhawk Resources, comes with almost 40 years of experience in the mining industry. Alec Peck, CA, has become ReMac's chief financial officer. He has been providing specialty financial and advisory services to Canadian corporations. ReMac, formerly OMC Capital Corp., is a Calgary-based resource company focused on a zinc/silver/lead project in southeast British Columbia.
Arsenal Energy Inc. (TSX:AEI) has accepted the resignation of Errol Stewart as president and CEO to pursue other business activities. Tony van Winkoop, current VP of exploration, becomes interim president and CEO. Van Winkoop joined the company in July 2006. Calgary-based Arsenal is a junior oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in Western Canada, North Dakota and Egypt.
Bradley Fedora will become the new president of Canyon Services Group Inc. (TSX:FRC) on Sept. 1. Fedora was previously a principal in the corporate finance group of Peters & Co. Ltd. Canyon offers specialized fracturing and chemical stimulation services to the oil and natural gas sector. Its head office is in Calgary.
Galleon Energy Inc. (TSX:GO) has made a number of changes to its management team. Marc Houle becomes VP of exploration west; Jim Iverson becomes VP of exploration east; Dale Orton becomes VP of engineering; Devin Sundstrom becomes VP of production; Chris Tibbles becomes VP of land; and Bill Wee becomes VP of corporate development. Calgary-based Galleon is a junior oil and gas company with operations in the Peace River area.
Cork Exploration Inc. (TSX:CRK) says VP of exploration Philip Collins and VP of business development Darryl Thomlison have resigned.
The company provided no details or explanation. Collins had been president and CEO until late June, when he became VP of exploration and resigned from the board, with chairman Raymond Smith taking over as interim CEO. Calgary-based Cork is a new startup oil and gas company.
Alberta Oilsands Inc. (TSXV:AOS) has reorganized its management team. Michael Lee becomes president. Lee was the former COO and co-founder of Platform Resources Inc., the predecessor to Alberta Oilsands. Chad Dust becomes executive VP of finance and business development. Prior to joining Alberta Oilsands, Dust held positions at Alberta Treasury Branches energy banking, Kern Energy Partners and ARC Financial. Scott Cochlan becomes corporate secretary. He is a partner at the law firm of Blake, Cassels, & Graydon in the securities group.
AOS is a junior oilsands company with its head office in Calgary.
Biomira Inc. (TSX:BRA; Nasdaq:BIOM) has appointed Gary Christianson to the newly created position of COO. Christianson was most recently site director for GlaxoSmithKline's biologics unit in Hamilton, Mont. Biomira is a biotech company specializing in the development of treatments for cancer. Its corporate office is in Edmonton.
Whitemud Resources Inc. (TSXV:WMK) has added Murray Yewchuk as VP of marketing to its management team. Most recently he was with Holcim, where he headed the Colorado sales team. Yewchuk replaces Kevin Graham, who assumes the role of VP of communications. Whitemud is developing a kaolin deposit in southern Saskatchewan to process into metakaolin, used as an additive to concrete. Its head office is in Calgary.
Stewart Larsen has resigned as CFO of Magnus Energy Inc. (TSXV:MEI). The company gave no further details. Calgary-based Magnus is a junior oil and gas company focused on oil and natural gas properties in Western Canada.
- with files from The Canadian Press (E-mail notices and photos at least two weeks before publication date to news@businessedge.ca)
