MARKHAM – Cable and telecommunications supplier Cygnal Technologies today announced that former Rogers Cable CEO Jos Wintermans has been hired as president and CEO, and as a director of the company
He starts Tuesday.
Gerald Hurlow, who took over as Cygnal’s CEO in August, 2004, when the company fired former CEO Kieron Dowling, will remain as Cygnal’s chairman.
Back in August 2004, Hurlow’s goals were to ensure “that the streamlining of the Network Operations business is completed on a timely basis and improvements in executional capability are accelerated," he said in a statement at the time.
"The time is right to hand over the reins to the CEO who will lead Cygnal over the long term," added Hurlow in today’s release. "I believe we have largely completed what I set out to accomplish five quarters ago, and that the company is now headed in the right direction. We have adjusted White Radio’s business model to support more consistent and profitable growth. We have consolidated our operations into a single Network Solutions platform supported by quality personnel and information systems, and are completing the redevelopment of our operational processes in the central region, which we believe will lead to long-term and significant productivity gains. At the end of September we secured new financing that is more appropriate for Cygnal’s needs. 
“Since I initiated discussions with Jos (left) it became clear that he was the right person to lead this company," Hurlow continued. "Our full board shares my confidence in his abilities, and Jos has expressed his excitement about the opportunity. I look forward to working with him."
Wintermans was most recently CEO of a distribution services company, Sodisco-Howden Group, “where his efforts contributed to a tripling of the stock price before the company was sold,” says the press release.
Previously was CEO of construction equipment manufacturer SKYJACK and from 1998-99, Wintermans was CEO of Rogers Cable. Prior to Rogers, he worked at Canadian Tire from 1988-97, serving first as CEO of Canadian Tire Acceptance Ltd. (CTAL), and subsequently as senior vice-president of Canadian Tire’s Diversified Businesses group.
“With much of the difficult restructuring work underway, I believe I can contribute to its full implementation. I believe Cygnal’s unique positioning as an independent, national communications integrator and distributor provides an ideal platform on which to build a true alternative in the Canadian marketplace with excellent growth opportunities,” added Wintermans in a statement.
Cygnal will release its third quarter results later today as well.
