Elyse Allan, President & CEO of GE Canada elected Chair of the Canadian
Chamber

GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 27 /CNW/ - Elyse Allan, President and CEO of GE Canada from Mississauga, ON, was elected volunteer Chair of the Board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce for 2010-2011 at its Annual General Meeting in Gatineau today (biography attached).

"The Canadian Chamber's greatest strength has always been the power of the chamber network and the ability of 192,000 businesses to speak with one voice," said Elyse Allan, Chair of the Board of Directors. "As the most influential business association in Canada, the Canadian Chamber is the primary and vital link between business and the federal government.  We have a demonstrated impact on public policy and decision-making to the benefit of business and for all Canadians."

"Elyse Allan is a dynamic and committed executive who brings with her a wealth of experience in both business and the voluntary sector," said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. "She will be an outstanding Chair for the Canadian Chamber."

Elyse Allan is joined on the Canadian Chamber leadership team by:

Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ottawa, Ontario
Robert Youden, First Vice Chair; Partner, Savarin Consulting, Quispamsis, New Brunswick
David Paterson, Second Vice Chair; Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Manulife Financial, Toronto, Ontario
Luc Reny, Third Vice Chair; Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, Power Corporation of Canada, Montreal, Quebec
John Jacobsen, Treasurer; President, Tower Group of Companies, Iqaluit, Nunavut
Shauneen Bruder, Immediate Past-Chair of the Board; Executive Vice President, Operations, RBC Financial Group, Canadian Banking, Toronto, Ontario

Elyse Allan
Chair of the Board of Directors
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce

In her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Canada, and through her many industry and community involvements, Elyse Allan demonstrates her passion for Canadian competitiveness in a global economy and creating a culture of excellence.

She was appointed to her post in October 2004, with a mission to grow GE's businesses in Canada, and to advance the company's leadership in technology, media, and financial services. The appointment marked Elyse's return to GE, where she began her career in 1984. She served in corporate marketing in the U.S. where she worked with a number of the industrial businesses, and held senior roles in GE Canada in corporate, lighting and appliances.

Elyse is active around many issues that influence Canada's productivity and competitive advantage. She is a strong advocate for advancing the country's science and technology base, competitive fiscal policy, and a strong cities agenda.

Aside from her work at GE, she contributes to these goals as a director of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, the C.D. Howe Institute, and the Public Policy Forum. She has served on the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy.

Active in the community, Elyse has been a member of the Canadian Chamber's board since 2008. She also serves as a director of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and the Mississauga International Investment Board. She is the former Chair of Providence Healthcare, a leading Toronto healthcare institution.

Prior to her current position, Elyse was President and CEO of the Toronto Board of Trade and, before that, a senior executive at Ontario Hydro.

Elyse earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth. Elyse also holds an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University in Toronto.

For further information:

Michel Barsalou
Cell: 613.862.3113
[email protected]