TechnoMontréal - Appointments to the Board of Directors

Facing up to a major challenge: ensuring a future generation of workers to maintain our competitive advantage

MONTREAL, Sept. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - TechnoMontréal's Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President and Director of the Montreal office for DMR-Fujitsu, Mr. Yves Pelletier, M.SC., CMC, FCMA announced today the appointment of three new members to the Board of the organization. TechnoMontréal is one of the major Information and Communications Technology (ICT) clusters in North America and is a powerful economic driver for entrepreneurs and creators of technology in Greater Montreal.

According to the OECD, ICT and the Internet are essential infrastructures for today's economy. Given the significant contribution of the ICT industry to the knowledge economy, competition among host countries and regions to attract global leaders is increasingly aggressive, particularly in terms of incentives. The ICT industry provides over 120,000 jobs in the metropolitan area.

"We are faced with increasing global competition in the Information and Communications Technology field," added Mr. Pelletier. "Unlike other traditional industries, we are facing a shortage of manpower which could, in the more or less long term, weaken the position of Montreal and Quebec on the world stage," said Mr. Pelletier. "This situation is even more preoccupying considering that we have a recognized talent base and dynamic entrepreneurs that appeal to investors." According to the president, our priority must be investing in the workforce, whether through training, immigration or tapping into the large pool of talented "baby boomers".

The Information and Communications Technology sector plays an exceptional role in productivity, growth, job creation and the attraction of investments globally. "TechnoMontréal's Board of Directors can further support the ICT cluster by stimulating its development in the region and strengthening its position among the world leaders," said Mr. Pelletier. It is in this context that TechnoMontréal invites governments, entrepreneurs and creators to rally around major developmental projects and to support innovation, financing and the commercialisation of ICT companies. "I sincerely thank all the Board members who are willing to devote their time to our collective success and bring their experience to the growth and expansion of the industry globally," he added.

Appointments to the Board of Directors. New members joining the TechnoMontréal team come from the private and institutional sectors of the industry. (The complete list of Board members is attached)

Mrs. Lyne Bouchard, Vice-Rector of the Longueuil campus and Vice-Rector of Information Technology Université de Sherbrooke
Mr. Denis Faubert, Senior Manager, Hydro-Québec Research Institute (IREQ)
Mr. André Gamache, Strategic Advisor, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)

About TechnoMontréal

The ICT industry provides 120,000 jobs in 5000 companies in the greater metropolitan area and ranks among the most dynamic in the world both in terms of creativity and technology. The TechnoMontréal cluster brings together stakeholders from the private, institutional and public sectors. It contributes significantly to the economic and social vitality of Greater Montréal. Its mission is to stimulate business development in Information and Communications Technology in the region and to work together to position the cluster among the world leaders in this sector.

Board of Directors

Mrs. Isabelle Bettez, Director, CEO, 8D Technologies

Mrs. Lyne Bouchard, Vice-President, Longueuil Campus and Vice-President, information technologies, Université de Sherbrooke

Mr. Pierre Boucher, Director, Research, Ericsson

Mr. Michel O. Côté, Vice-president; Financial Services and Manufacturing, distribution, transportation, telecom, pharmaceutical Sector, CGI Group

Mrs. Pearl Desbiens, Industry Development Officer, Industry Canada

Mr. Benoît Descôteaux, Coordonnateur, Grands projets et stratégie de développement régional et métropolitain, Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire

Mr. Denis Faubert, Senior Manager, Hydro-Québec Research Institute (IREQ)

Mr. André Gamache, Strategic Advisor, École de technologie supérieure

Mr. Michel Guay, President CEO, Gtechna

Mr. Robert Héroux, Global Marketing Program Director; Technology and Services, IBM

Mr. Alain Lavoie, President, Irosoft

Mrs. Guylaine Leblanc, Director, Information, Communication and Technology, Ministère du Développement économique,  de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation

Mr. Robert Lévesque, Vice-President & Partner, R&D Capital

Mr. Jacques Ouellet, Senior Vice President, R&D and Commercialization, CRIM

Mr. Guy-Charles Pelletier, President, Pecunianet

Mr. Yves Pelletier, Senior Vice-President, Manager, Montreal Office, DMR-Fujitsu

Mr. Marc Petit, Senior Vice-President, Autodesk

Mr. André Petitclerc, Director, Investments, Information and Communication Technologies Group, SGF

Mr. Maurice Piché, CEO, College Bois-de-Boulogne

Mr. Gilles Savard, Director Research & Innovation, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal

Mr. Jacques St-Laurent, President and Chief Executive Officer, Montreal International

Mr. Robert Talbot, Associate Director, Propulsion Ventures Inc.

Mr. Philippe Turp, Director, Strategic Development and Institutional Relations, Ubisoft

Mr. Louis Veilleux, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sologlobe

TechnoMontréal

Crossroads of technological excellence, the Information and Communications Technology cluster of Greater Montreal:

• 120,000 people in 5000 companies and organisations related to ICT
• Over 70% of jobs in Greater Montreal
• Revenues of approximately $ 25 billion
• Over $3,5 billion in exports
• SMEs represent over 90% of ICT companies
• 23,000 jobs (over 20%) in 200 foreign companies
• 12,500 jobs in R&D activities
• 7,500 researchers in private centres
• 5,000 in over 100 university research centres

Rich and diverse, like Montreal's economy, the ICT cluster has a critical mass of companies in seven complementary sectors:

• Manufacturing
• Software
• IT Services
• Telecommunications Services
• Interactive Digital Media and Services
• Audiovisuel and Digital Sound
• Digital Arts

For further information:

Source:	TechnoMontréal
	Mr. Yves Pelletier Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President and Manager, Montreal office, DMR-Fujitsu
	Émilie Desgens, Executive Assistant [phone]
Information and interviews:	Huguette Marcotte Communications
	Huguette Marcotte - [phone]
	Pierre Chaurest - [phone] [phone]