National retailer Sears Canada Inc. will be looking for a new chairman when Glenn R. Richter resigns late this month. He will also be leaving Sears, Roebuck and Co., where he is executive vice-president and chief financial officer, on the expected closing of its merger with Kmart Holding Corp., Sears said.
Gary Loving has been named president and CEO of Frontera Copper Corp. (TSX:FCC, TSX:FCC.WT). Most recently he was senior vice- president of South American operations for Phelps Dodge Mining Co. Toronto-based Frontera operates the Piedras Verdes copper project in Mexico.
Absolut Resources Corp. (TSXV:ABS) has appointed Richard Cleath as vice-president of exploration. Most recently he was exploration manager of Minera Reliance del Peru S.A.C. Absolut is a precious metals exploration and development company based in Toronto.
Privasoft Corp. has named Brian Jensen as president. He will continue to lead product strategy and market development. Privasoft makes freedom-of-information management applications.
Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. has appointed Kirk Mandy as the computer chip company's new president and CEO, as it announced plans to axe 150 jobs and halt some research to cut costs. The company has about 1,025 employees, including 225 in Ottawa, which is its only Canadian location.
Connors Bros. Income Fund (TSX:CBF.UN) has announced the retirement of chief financial officer Ronald Miller and his replacement by Kent McNeil. McNeil will succeed Miller on March 26.
Hydrogenics Corp. has hired Lawrence Davis as its new chief financial officer, effective April 1, the fuel-cell maker announced. Davis will replace Gary Brandt, who announced earlier that he will step down from his post to pursue new opportunities. Brandt will stay with the company until March 31 to help with the transition. Davis, a chartered accountant, was previously president of merchant bank Saturn Capital Corp.
Avaya Inc. has appointed Yves Laliberte as the company's vice- president of sales and strategic alliances for Canada. Laliberte joined Avaya in July 2004. Avaya Inc. provides business communications software, systems and services.
Crowflight Minerals Inc. (TSXV:CML) has named Paul Keller as vice-president and chief operating officer. He was most recently manager of underground operations for the Williams Mine at Hemlo. Crowflight is a Canadian mining and exploration company focused on the Thompson Nickel Belt and Sudbury Basin.
Manufacturing software maker Webplan Corp. has made two appointments in the executive suite. Bob Dolan is the new vice-president for North American and European sales, while Shuji Sueshige becomes president of Asia Pacific operations. Dolan was most recently vice-president of regional sales at Metreo. Sueshige was most recently the president of Asia Pacific operations at Adexa. Webplan provides software and services solutions for rapid-response manufacturing.
Investment dealer Raymond James Ltd. has appointed Kevin Whelly to the new position of senior vice- president for growth and development. Raymond James has about 5,100 investment advisers around the world.
Aluma Enterprises Inc. has announced the appointment of Richard Brescia to the post of executive director of marketing and communications for Aluma Systems. Previously, Brescia was EVP for marketing of Pindar Press. Toronto-based Aluma Systems is an industrial scaffolding and concrete construction services company.
NCR Corp. (NYSE:NCR) has announced that Patrick Leonard has been appointed vice-president of the retail solutions division for Canada. He was most recently sales director for IT infrastructure services in NCR's customer services division. NCR's Canadian head office is in Mississauga. Its retail solutions division provides store-automation services.
The Macquarie Power Income Fund (TSX:MPT.UN) has appointed Harry Atterton as chief financial officer, effective March 1. Atterton will replace Germain Lecours, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
The Reynolds and Reynolds Co. (NYSE:REY) has named Ron Reed as vice-president of sales for Reynolds and Reynolds Canada, which is based in Mississauga. Reed was most recently director of North American field operations at Progress Software Corp. Reynolds and Reynolds provides integrated solutions for automotive retailers.
Northwestern Mineral Ventures Inc. (TSXV:NWT; OTCBB:NWTMF) has appointed J. Errol Farr as CFO. Farr has 10 years of experience with numerous junior mining companies. Northwestern is an emerging exploration company focused on properties with potential uranium and iron-oxide copper-gold targets.
Orion Securities Inc. has named John Budreski as its new chief executive, the Toronto-based investment dealer said. Budreski will also be CEO of another unit, Orion Financial Inc., and took on his new roles March 1.
The company also named Dan Cristall as chairman of Orion Financial Inc., effective April 1.
- with files from The Canadian Press
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