Mossadiq Umedaly appointed Chair of BC Hydro Board

NEW CHAIR APPOINTED TO BC HYDRO BOARD
Media Release, BC Government, 14-Dec-2007

Umedaly named chair of BC Hydro board
Vancouver Sun, 14-Dec-2007

VICTORIA – Mossadiq Umedaly has been appointed chair of the BC Hydro Board of Directors, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld announced today.

“This is an opportune time for Mr. Umedaly to become the chair of BC Hydro,” said Neufeld. “Mr. Umedaly’s demonstrated leadership in business and the energy sector will be a valuable asset in the continued implementation of the BC Energy Plan that we released this year. BC Hydro has done an impressive job under Mr. Bell and I look forward to working with the new chair.”

Larry Bell is retiring after serving as chair of BC Hydro since 2001. Bell has provided exemplary leadership at the corporation during his tenure and was instrumental in the implementation of government’s first Energy Plan in 2002. Neufeld applauded his commitment to advancing energy efficiency and his long-standing public service to British Columbia.

Umedaly brings an extensive background in the energy sector and has served as the chair of the Premier’s Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force. He currently serves as chair of Xantrex Technology and prior to that was the company’s chief executive officer. He previously held senior positions with Ballard Power Systems, Aga Khan Development Network and began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is currently a member of the Premier’s Technology Council and British Columbia’s Climate Action Team.

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Media contact:
Jake Jacobs
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
250 952-0628
250 213-6934 (cell)

BC Government Media Release

Xantrex Technology chairman Mossadiq Umedaly will succeed Larry Bell as chairman of the BC Hydro board of directors.

Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld said it was "an opportune time" for Umedaly to step into the top role, in light of the introduction earlier this year of an updated provincial energy plan.

That plan includes requirements for Hydro to add new power sources and ambitious electricity conservation targets over the next decade, as well as transform the crown corporation from a net energy importer to a net exporter.

"Mr. Umedaly's demonstrated leadership in business and the energy sector will be a valuable asset in the continued implementation of the B.C. Energy Plan that we released this year," Neufeld said in a news release. "BC Hydro has done an impressive job under Mr. Bell and I look forward to working with the new chair."

Bell is retiring after serving as chair of BC Hydro since 2001.

Umedaly served as the chair of the Premier's Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force and was chief executive officer of Xantrex before ascending to the role of chair.

He previously held senior positions with Ballard Power Systems, Aga Khan Development Network and began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is currently a member of the Premier's Technology Council and British Columbia's Climate Action Team, the release said.