News
Pratt & Whitney Canada president named AIAC chair

Nov. 1, 2010, Ottawa – The Aerospace Industries
Association of Canada (AIAC) has announced that John Saabas, president
of Pratt & Whitney Canada, has been named chairman of the
association’s board of directors for 2010-2011. Mr. Saabas succeeds Marc Parent, President and
Chief Executive Officer of CAE Inc., who held the position for the past
year.

“This is an important time for the aerospace industry in Canada and I am pleased to be taking on this role,” said Mr. Saabas. “As an industry, we have weathered the economic downturn relatively well.  Our focus now is to continue building on our long-standing leadership and drive forward innovation, job creation and economic growth for Canada.”
 
Mr. Saabas pointed to the fact that the aerospace industry in Canada employs some 80,000 Canadians in high-value jobs, and generates $22.2 billion in annual revenue. With emerging world markets and increasing demand for products, Canada has the potential to double the number of aerospace-related jobs in the next 10 years through accelerated R&D investments according to an economic impact study conducted by Deloitte & Touche.
 
Claude Lajeunesse, President and CEO of the AIAC, welcomed Mr. Saabas to the board and thanked Mr. Parent for his excellent work as Chairman.
 
“I welcome Mr. John Saabas as Chairman of the Board and I look forward to his leadership as we head into this next period of exciting growth and opportunity.  On behalf of AIAC’s board, I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Parent who as Chairman demonstrated an exceptional vision and a deep commitment to serving the interests of the industry,” said Mr. Lajeunesse.