Ballard Power Systems Announces Senior Management Appointments
4 November 1998
Ballard Power Systems Announces Senior Management Appointments
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Nov. 4, 1998-- Ballard Power (TSE:BLD.) Ballard Power Systems Inc. announced today the appointments of Michael Graydon as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Paul Lancaster as Vice President, Corporate Development and Noordin Nanji as Vice President and General Counsel.
Mr. Graydon comes to Ballard from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Cambridge, Ontario where he most recently served as the General Manager, Production Control in one of the most successful Toyota plants in the world for quality and productivity, with production capacity of 200,000 vehicles per year and over 2,500 employees. Mr. Graydon joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in its start-up phase in 1987 and gained valuable experience in finance, systems and production control through his various positions at Toyota. Before his promotion in January 1998 to General Manager, Production Control, Mr. Graydon held the position General Manager, Finance. Mr. Graydon is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science from Queens University and a Masters in Business Administration from McMaster University.
Mr. Lancaster started his career with Ballard in 1990 as Controller and was promoted to Treasurer and Manager, Investor Relations in 1993. In June 1998 Mr. Lancaster took on the additional role of Acting Chief Financial Officer. In addition to his experience through his investor and media relations activities with the investor community, including shareholders, investment analysts, brokers and the public, Mr. Lancaster has played a key role in negotiating and implementing Ballard's strategic partnerships. Mr. Lancaster is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan.
Mr. Nanji comes to Ballard from the law firm of Lang Michener Lawrence & Shaw where he has been a Partner since 1989. Mr. Nanji's career at Lang Michener focused on general corporate and securities law with an emphasis on the technology sector. Mr. Nanji has been Ballard's senior legal advisor since 1993 and has been involved in all of Ballard's public financings. He has played a key role in the negotiation of most of Ballard's strategic partnerships, including the relationships with Daimler-Benz and Ford. In July 1998 Mr. Nanji was appointed Ballard's Corporate Secretary. Mr. Nanji holds a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University and was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 1983.
Mr. Graydon's and Mr. Lancaster's appointments are effective November 30, 1998 and Mr. Nanji's appointment is effective December 15, 1998.
"The addition of these three members strengthens the Ballard team as the Company evolves from research and development to volume manufacturing," said Firoz Rasul, Ballard's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Ballard Power Systems is the world leader in the development of proton exchange membrane fuel cell power systems. At the heart of its products is the Ballard Fuel Cell, a proprietary zero-emission engine that converts natural gas, methanol, gasoline, or hydrogen fuel into electricity without combustion. Ballard Fuel Cells are currently being used by leading international companies including Daimler-Benz, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Nissan, Honda, Volkswagen, Volvo, Matsushita Electric Works, GPU International, ALSTOM, EBARA, and Cinergy to develop zero-emission engines for vehicles and clean stationary power plants.