OTTAWA, Nov. 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mitel (Nasdaq:MITL), a leading provider of unified communications software solutions, announced that Don Smith, Chief Executive Officer, has been named the CEO of the Year by the Ottawa Business Journal (OBJ).
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Founded by the Ottawa Business Journal in 2000, the CEO of the Year Award highlights the quality of chief executive talent in Canada's national capital region. Candidates are assessed on business success, leadership and vision, competitiveness and innovation, community involvement, and timeliness. Smith was selected by a committee chaired by OBJ publisher, Michael Curran, OCRI president Claude Haw, Telfer School of Management acting dean Francois Julien, and past recipients.
"Don Smith's success at re-engineering Mitel and preparing it for the future is very clear," said OBJ publisher Michael Curran. "The transition to IP-based technology, the acquisition of Inter-Tel, and the IPO all speak to his leadership."
Smith joined Mitel in April 2001 as CEO and a member of the company's board of directors. As CEO, Smith is responsible for advancing Mitel's leadership in the unified communications market, devising and executing forward-thinking business strategies and corporate policies, and overseeing Mitel's global operations.
Among Smith's achievements as CEO, the most notable include: driving Mitel's product transition from TDM to IP technology and more recently evolving Mitel from a hardware supplier to a software-based solutions and services company; acquiring Inter-Tel; and taking the company public in 2010.
"Don has done an exemplary job leading Mitel through a number of technology cycles during his tenure as CEO," said Terry Matthews, chairman of the board for Mitel. "The passion and dedication Don brings to his role has made him instrumental to the success of the company and most deserving of the title of CEO of the Year."
Smith has more than 30 years of experience in the communications technology industry, including more than six years at Mitel Corporation from 1979 to 1986 where he was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President in 1981 with global responsibility for sales and marketing. Following his career at Mitel Corporation, he became President of AIT Corporation. He successfully took AIT public in 1993. In 1996 Don founded and was president and CEO of Cambrian Systems Corporation. In December 1998 Cambrian Systems was acquired by Nortel Networks Corporation and from then until January 2000, Smith was VP and General Manager of OPTera Solutions, a division of Nortel. In January 2000, Smith was promoted to President of Optical Internet at Nortel.
About Mitel
Mitel Networks (Nasdaq:MITL) is a global provider of business communications solutions and services, consisting of unified communications and collaboration software applications, IP telephony platforms, mobility applications and managed and network services. Mitel enables businesses of all sizes to move beyond basic fixed telephony tools toward integrated multi-media collaboration solutions, accessible from anywhere, helping to improve performance, gain competitive advantage, and reduce costs. Mitel's global headquarters are in Ottawa, Canada, U.S. headquarters are in Chandler, Arizona and EMEA headquarters are in Caldicot, UK, with offices, partners, and resellers worldwide. For more information visit:
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CONTACT: Mitel Networks Corporation Media Danielle McNeil 613-592-2122 x4643 danielle_mcneil@mitel.com Twitter: @Danielle_McNeil Liam Rose 415-992-3213 lrose@sterlingpr.com Industry Analysts Kevin Johnson 613-592-2122 x6690 kevin_johnson@mitel.com Twitter: @Kevin_Johnson Investor Relations Cynthia Hiponia 613-592-2122 x1992 investorrelations@mitel.com