EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - May 5, 2015) -Ceapro Inc.(TSX VENTURE:CZO) ("Ceapro" or the "Company"), a growth-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of active ingredients for healthcare and cosmetic industries, announced today it has appointed Stacy Prefontaine, CA, as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Prefontaine replaces Branko Jankovic who is leaving his position effective immediately.
Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO of Ceapro, stated, "On behalf of Ceapro's management and board of directors, I would like to thank Mr. Jankovic for his tireless efforts, commitment and significant contributions over the years to help in achieving the current positioning of the Company. While he will remain a close collaborator to Ceapro, we wish him all the best in his future endeavors."
Ms. Prefontaine is an accomplished global finance and accounting executive with close to two decades of experience in public company external financial reporting, corporate tax compliance and planning, and accounting practices and controls. She has led assurance and accounting services for numerous leading private and public companies assisting with their successful fund raising ventures including offering memorandums and initial public offerings, and with their adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards.
"We are pleased to welcome Ms. Prefontaine as a member of the executive management team. She is extremely well qualified and brings a breadth of experience that will be invaluable as we prepare our Company for the next stages and are contemplating various corporate strategic initiatives to expand our value-drivers product into the extensive nutraceutical and pharmaceutical markets," stated Mr. Gagnon.
Ms. Prefontaine added, "I am honored to be joining Ceapro at this exciting time as we prepare for our next phase of growth. I look forward to working with the leadership team, employees and the Board as we advance the company forward and continue identify ways to enhance shareholder value."
Prior to joining Ceapro, Ms. Prefontaine was a Principal at Grant Thornton LLP, one of the world's leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, where she led assurance services for a variety of public and private organizations for the last four years. She joined Grant Thornton in 2011 when it acquired Stout & Company LLP, an Edmonton accounting and advisory firm, where Ms. Prefontaine was a Partner. Previously, she was a manager with increasing responsibility in client service accounting for over five years at Collins Barrow Calgary LLP, one of Canada's largest associations of Chartered Accounting firms. Ms. Prefontaine earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, and her designation as Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta.