Former pro football player John Forzani is retiring as full-time executive chairman of sporting goods retailer Forzani Group Ltd. (TSX: FGL) at the end of January.
Forzani, who is 59 and opened his first store in 1974 and helped create a national $1.3-billion company, will remain on the board of directors as non-executive chairman, the Calgary-based firm said.
The Forzani Group now calls itself Canada's largest national retailer of sporting goods, operating stores and selling franchises under 14 corporate banners.
Grande Cache Coal Corp. (TSX:GCE) has appointed Eugene Nagai to the position of vice-president of marketing and transportation.
Nagai is a marketing professional who joins Grande Cache from a Canadian sulphur exporting company.
Grande Cache is a Calgary-based metallurgical coal-mining company with coal leases in west-central Alberta.
Fording Canadian Coal Trust (TSX:FDG.UN) will make Boyd Payne president of the trust, effective Jan. 1. He will also remain president and CEO of Elk Valley Coal Partnership, which is 60 per cent owned by the Calgary-based fund and 40 per cent owned by Teck Cominco Ltd. (TSX:TCK.B).
Payne will be replacing Jim Popowich, who retires as president of the trust on Dec. 31.
Elk Valley is the world's second-largest exporter of coking coal used in steelmaking.
Lance Wirth has joined Sure Energy Inc. (SHR:TSX) as VP of finance and chief financial officer. Prior to joining Sure, Wirth, a CA, served for four years in a financial manager's role with a large oil and gas royalty trust.
Based in Calgary, Sure Energy is a publicly traded oil and gas exploration and development company.
The Churchill Corp. (TSX:CUQ) says Norman Rokosh is resigning as its president and CEO, effective Jan. 20. While a replacement is sought, Pete Adams, chairman of the board, will serve as interim CEO assisted by Al Stowkowy, president of Stuart Olson Construction.
Based in Edmonton, Churchill provides building and industrial construction, and maintenance services throughout Western Canada.
Allen Hagerman is shifting gears within the Canadian Oil Sands Trust (TSX:COS.UN).
Effective as of the trust's April 2007 annual meeting, Hagerman is moving from his full-time position as CFO of the trust's wholly owned subsidiary, Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. (COS), to a part-time role as executive VP. In this new role he will be responsible for various projects and specific Syncrude-related matters.
Ryan Kubik will be promoted to CFO of COS effective April 25. Kubik, a CA, joined COS as treasurer in September 2002.
The trust, an open-ended investment trust managed by Canadian Oil Sands Ltd., has a direct working interest in the Syncrude Project, which operates large oilsands mines and an upgrading facility. The trust's headquarters are in Calgary.
In connection with the acquisition of NQL Energy Services Inc. (TSX:NQL) by Dreco Acquisition Corp., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of National Oilwell Varco, Inc., Kevin Nugent has resigned as president, CEO and a director of NQL, but has agreed to provide consulting services to NQL for a transition period. These roles now are being filled by Jeremy Thigpen.
NQL provides drilling applications in the oil and gas and utility industries.
Winalta Inc. (TSXV: WTA.A), an Edmonton-based maker of manufactured and modular homes, says president and CEO Frank Dixon has left the company.
Winalta did not give a reason for Dixon's departure, but said he will be replaced on an interim basis by Layne Wilk, VP of distribution and logistics.
CCS Income Trust (TSX:CCR.UN) has named Ralph Hesje, P.Eng., as president of its energy services division. Hesje brings more than 30 years of energy industry engineering, construction and business experience. He will lead CCS's operations in the American market CCS Energy Services provides oilfield waste treatment, recovery and disposal services. CCS Income Trust (TSX: CCR.UN) provides integrated environmental services along with energy services. It is headquartered in Calgary.
Overlord Financial Inc. (TSXV:OFI) has appointed Ben Cheng as president of Aston Hill Financial Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Overlord that is opening a Toronto office in February. Cheng was formerly managing director of Fortress Investment Group LLC.
Eric Tremblay has been promoted to CEO of Overlord. Tremblay was previously acting as executive chairman of the board of directors and will continue as chairman.
Astin Hill focuses on various yield vehicles. Overlord is a Calgary-based investment manager.
OPUS Building Canada Inc. has promoted Hannes Kovac as president and CEO. Founding partner and former president and CEO Willard Olauson will remain active in the company as chairman of the board.
Kovac joined OPUS in 1997, serving most recently as partner and VP of operations.
The company says this promotion is part of OPUS's succession planning and long-term business strategy. OPUS is a Western Canadian developer of office, commercial and warehouse space, with its head office in Calgary.
WestJet (TSX:WJA) has named John Hamilton as VP of WestJet Vacations. Most recently, he ran BCAA Travel.
WestJet Vacations, a wholly owned subsidiary of Calgary-based WestJet Airlines Ltd., specializes in customized vacation packages.
- with files from CP (E-mail notices and photos at least two weeks before publication date to news@businessedge.ca)
