OTTAWA – Bernard Lord has been named the new president and CEO of the Ottawa-based Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, effective Monday.
The former Premier of New Brunswick – who led the province with two successive majorities from 1999 to 2006, when his PC party lost to the provincial Liberals, was most recently senior counsel at the McCarthy Tétrault law firm and serves as a director for several corporate and non-profit organizations.
"On behalf of the CWTA board of directors, it is indeed a pleasure to welcome Bernard to one of Canada’s fastest growing industries," said Almis Ledas, CWTA chair. "Bernard’s proven achievements in stimulating economic growth and social progress will be invaluable as the industry continues to innovate and provide Canadians with world-class wireless products and services."
Lord, 42, “has often been recognized as a national leader and consensus builder for his work with the Council of the Federation, The New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conferences and La Francophonie. He was chosen as one of Time magazine’s top 25 New Generation of Leaders in Canada as well as being awarded the title of Grand Officier de l’Ordre de la Pleiade from the International Association of Francophone Parliamentarians,” reads the CWTA press release.
With the number of wireless phone connections in Canada exceeding basic telephone subscriptions, new technologies and further competition from new companies are delivering the mobile Internet to Canadians from coast to coast, wireless communication is becoming ever-more important to all Canadians.
"Wireless service has become a key enabler of economic growth and a new vehicle to deliver entertainment and information," said Ledas. "We are delighted that such an eminent and dynamic Canadian has agreed to be a leader of the industry that is revolutionizing our information economy."
Lord assumes the leadership of CWTA from former president and CEO Peter Barnes who led the association for eight years before his departure to pursue other opportunities earlier this year. "Peter’s contributions to the wireless industry are immeasurable, and we wish him many future successes," added Ledas.
