Rich Thompson has decided to step down as president of Calgary-based marketing communications firm Parallel Strategies.
Thompson was in the top seat for 15 years, and will continue to play a role in the company’s future as a shareholder and a strategic lead for clients.
Mario Amantea, former COO and president of the Trans Canada Advertising Agency Network, assumed the role of Parallel president on July 4, responsible for Calgary and Vancouver operations.
Also, former Parallel division Zero Gravity will become an independent company, with Thompson a majority shareholder. The independent company will continue to operate out of Parallel’s Calgary offices, while Parallel offices in North Bay, Ottawa and Edmonton will move under the Zero Gravity banner.
Joseph Martinez has been named controller of Michetti Information Solutions Inc., headquartered in Edmonton. Martinez will also act as Navision implementation consultant for the company’s line of financial and accounting software.
Greg Michetti, company president and CEO, said the position is effective immediately. Martinez, who recently passed his CGA certification exams, will work out of the company’s Edmonton headquarters. Michetti (GDC-TSE) also has a Calgary office.
The University of Calgary board of governors has a new chair. Brian MacNeill, who takes over for retiring chair Ted Newall, will serve a three-year term. A chartered accountant, MacNeill was president and chief executive officer of Enbridge Inc. prior to retiring earlier this year.
He has served as director of a number of corporations and on a number of professional boards. MacNeill, a former Calgary-area United Way campaign chairman, was recently appointed to the post by Alberta Learning Minister Lyle Oberg.
“Mr. MacNeill is a respected businessman and valued member of his community,” Oberg said in a statement. “He has the leadership skills, the knowledge and the experience to continue the work of his predecessor and build on the University of Calgary’s tradition of excellence.”
Palmer Jarvis DDB Edmonton has appointed Martha Jamieson to the post of vice-president of publication relations. The longtime company employee, who has nearly two decades of experience in the PR business, joined the Edmonton office in 1995 to provide clients with public relations services. Prior to that, she spent several years working at the Palmer Jarvis office in Vancouver.
Palmer Jarvis DDB is a Canadian communications agency that is headquarters in Vancouver and has offices in Edmonton and Toronto as well as a network of strategic alliances. Its clients include TELUS, Columbia Brewery, Amicus Financial, Esso and the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, slated for next month in Edmonton.
Sheila McIntosh has been appointed vice-president of investor relations of PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd. (PCP-TSE). With more than 12 years of investor relations experience, McIntosh was previously vice-president of corporate communications and investor relations with Canadian Pacific Ltd. She has degrees from both the University of Alberta and Brandon University, and an MBA from McGill University.
Calgary-based PanCanadian is a North American energy company which is involved in the exploration, development, production and marketing of natural gas, crude oil, natural gas liquids and electricity.
Colorado-based Pixxures Inc. has announced Richard Schlachter will join the company’s Canadian team as vice-president of operations. Schlachter will be responsible for general management of production activities and online mapping services and will work from the Calgary office.
Before joining Pixxures, he worked as an executive mapping consultant to QC Data and Alberta-based AltaLIS. Prior to that, Schlachter was senior manager of UMA Geomatics and SaskGeomatics. Pixxures develops new technology to speed production and delivery of digital imagery and mapping products.
John McCrae has resigned as president and chief executive officer of Edmonton-based Resin Systems Inc.
Executive vice-president Greg Pendura has been appointed to fill the vacant post, and will work closely with Resin Systems’ new U.S.-based sales team to accelerate the commercialization of its Version Resin System. Resin Systems Inc.
(RS-CDNX) is a chemical technology company that is engaged in the commercialization and further development of its proprietary line of polyurethane-based composite resin systems under the Version brand name.
