~ Global OEM Expertise Supports Growth Opportunities for Key Off Road
Products ~
VANCOUVER, Sept. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT /
NASDAQ:WPRT), engineering the world's most advanced natural gas engines
and systems, today announced the appointment of Thomas Rippon to the
position of Vice President, Mining and Rail, at Westport.
"Thomas brings excellent credentials in implementing operations in
geographic markets that are key for Westport's off-road application
programs," said Nancy Gougarty, President and COO of Westport. "His
experience as a senior executive at a global original equipment
manufacturer will support our priority to commercialize products that
drive us toward profitability."
According to industry statistics and Westport analysis, global heavy
off-road applications use more than 24 billion gallons of diesel each
year, creating an attractive opportunity for significant cost savings
and reduced emissions by using natural gas.
Thomas's experience includes an extensive tenure at General Motors in
both North America and Asia. His career began in 1972 at General Motors
on the assembly line, and from there he was successively promoted. From
2001 to 2006, Thomas held a number of executive roles responsible for
powertrain activities, including building an engine plant capable of
producing 350,000 engines per year. Thomas's most recent position at GM
was Global Program Manager where he was responsible for managing five
different joint ventures while overseeing more than $1 billion in
capital investment. Most currently he has held the roles of Vice
President Engineering, Vice President, and PMO at CODA Automotive,
where he has had responsibility for program execution, standardizing
process and procedures, and change management. He is active in his
community and has served as a volunteer for organizations such as the
American Women's Club, Boy Scouts of America, and YMCA.
As Vice President, Mining and Rail, Thomas will be assuming some of the
responsibilities of Nick Sonntag, Executive Vice President of Westport
and President, Westport Asia, who retired as of September 13, 2013.
Nick joined Westport in September 2006 and was responsible for the
growth and development of Westport's emerging OEM global partnerships.
"I wish to thank Nick for his seven years of contribution to Westport,"
said David Demers, CEO of Westport Innovations. "We will miss Nick's
energy and we wish him well in his retirement."
About Westport
Westport engineers the world's most advanced natural gas engines and
vehicles. More than that, we are fundamentally changing the way the
world travels the roads, rails and seas. We work with original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide from design through to
production, creating products to meet the growing demand for vehicle
technology that will reduce both emissions and fuel costs. To learn
more about our business, visit westport.com, subscribe to our RSS feed, or follow us on Twitter @WestportDotCom.
Note: This document contains forward-looking statements about Westport's
business, operations, technology development or the environment in
which it operates, which are based on Westport's estimates, forecasts
and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to
predict, or are beyond Westport's control. Consequently, readers should
not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In
addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which
they are made. Westport disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Westport Innovations Inc.
