MONTREAL and HALIFAX – Bell Aliant president and CEO Karen Sheriff will retire from the BCE group of companies by December 31, 2014, the company announced Wednesday.
BCE said earlier this week that its privatization of Bell Aliant is expected to close on or about October 31. Upon close of the transaction, Bell Aliant will cease operating as a publicly traded company and be integrated into BCE's national operations. A new regional leader for Bell Aliant will be announced at that time.
Sheriff, pictured, joined Bell Canada in May 1999 as senior vice president of product management and development, and was later promoted to chief marketing officer. She became Bell Canada's president of small and medium business before being appointed chief operating officer of Bell Aliant in July 2008 and then president and CEO in November 2008.
"I want to thank all of my colleagues at BCE for an incredible run over the past 15 years, culminating with my time at Bell Aliant," said Sheriff, in the announcement. "This is an exciting next step for Bell Aliant with BCE's commitment to continued investment in Atlantic Canada. I look forward to working with George Cope and the team as we begin the integration of Bell Aliant into BCE's national operations."
"Karen Sheriff has been a key senior leader at BCE since she joined Bell Canada as a marketing executive more than 15 years ago”, added George Cope, president and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE Inc., and chair of Bell Aliant. “Karen has transformed Bell Aliant into an innovative and efficient competitor that ranks with the best telecom operators across North America. On behalf of everyone at BCE and Bell Aliant, I offer Karen our warmest congratulations on her outstanding career at Bell Canada and Bell Aliant and our thanks for continuing with BCE to help ensure a smooth transition."
