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Family, friends and colleagues held a farewell bash in Ottawa last week for Roger Poirier, the past president/CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. Poirier was appointed to the Radiocomm Association of Canada in 1993, a small one-person operation that he helped grow into the CWTA. Previously, he was senior VP with the Canadian Cable Television Association. During this early career (1972-1982), Poirier held senior positions with the Department of Communications (now Industry Canada), developing broadcasting and cable television standards. Since stepping down as CWTA chief over a year ago, he took on the position of executive VP. An engineer by training, Poirier says he’s not quite ready for retirement just yet. Ken Miller has resigned as CEO of MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc, Richmond BC. Company founder and former CEO Erik Dysthe will return to the post to take over from the departing Miller. Dysthe founded the company in 1993 and has served as its chair since then. He was also president and CEO from Feb. 1993 to Jan. 1996 when Miller was elected president and COO. Then in Nov. 1998, Miller took over the two top jobs at the firm. Miller joined the firm in June 1995 as VP finance and CFO. Miller was instrumental in growing the company to what it is today, and has been recognized as one of the fastest growing Canadian companies. He also played a major role in the development of the company’s Advantex r7 product. Ron Couchman is stepping down as CEO of SR Telecom Inc, St. Laurent QC. Pierre St-Arnaud has been nominated to succeed him and it is expected that both changes will become effective on April 19. That is the date of the company’s annual general meeting of shareholders. Couchman is expected to remain active with the company and will likely be appointed deputy chair of the board of directors. A plan was developed some time ago for his departure and with the appointment of St-Arnaud last July and the release of a new product platform imminent, Couchman felt the time was right for a change at the helm. Couchman has been with the company almost since its inception back in 1981. He began his career with SR Telecom as VP and GM and rose steadily over the years to gain the top post in 1994. St-Arnaud has more than 20 years experience in various high-tech industries and has held the COO post for more than 10 of those. Sierra Wireless Inc, president and CEO, David Sutcliffe has been honoured with one of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association’s (CTIA) presidents awards. Four awards were presented to those that have made special contributions to the wireless community. Sutcliffe was honoured for his leadership at the helm of the Wireless Data Forum which led to the integration of the WDF and the CTIA. Tom Wheeler, president and CEO of the CTIA says, "It is only through (Sutcliffe’s) hard work and determination that we are now the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association." Scott Allen has tendered his resignation from the board of directors of Total Telcom Inc, Edmonton. He cited business and professional commitments as being his primary reasons for leaving. Keith Neuman, Ph.D. has joined Decima Research Inc. as senior VP. In this position he assumes responsibility for managing the Ottawa office and building the company’s public affairs research practice. Neuman joins Decima with more than 13 years of senior research consulting experience with such companies as Environics, Corporate Research Associates and In-Touch Survey Systems.

ROW People

News | April 3, 2001

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