FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 10, 2006
(Vancouver, BC) – Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT) today announced the appointment of Nicholas Sonntag as President of Westport Asia. In his role, Mr. Sonntag will be responsible for the growth and development of Westport’s emerging businesses and opportunities in China. He will also play an integral role in Westport’s other Asian market opportunities.
“China and Asia are becoming increasingly important to Westport’s strategic growth plans and we are very excited to have Nick Sonntag take on this role,” stated David Demers, CEO of Westport. “Our recently completed BTIC Westport joint venture company is just the tip of the iceberg for Westport’s activities in Asia. We are now experiencing a high degree of interest in LNG and CNG as a viable option to fuel China’s transportation future.”
Mr. Sonntag has been active in international engineering and sustainable development for over 35 years, working as a senior executive for organizations in China, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland. Most recently he served for 3 years as President of CH2M HILL’s operations in Beijing, China where he was responsible for a staff of over 250 working on sustainable infrastructure and industrial development across China and Hong Kong. Prior to his assignment in China, he was the President of CH2M HILL Canada, a $50 million engineering infrastructure company employing over 500 people in offices across Canada. He also previously served as the Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in Stockholm, Sweden, an international research institute working on sustainability in developed and developing countries. In 1991-92 Nicholas was the Chief of Staff to the Secretary General of the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Following the 1992 Earth Summit, he was the Director of Communications and Partnerships at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Winnipeg, Canada. Mr. Sonntag’s memberships and Board positions include: Royal Roads Science, Technology and Environment Advisory Board, Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC; Chair of Environmental Forum, American Chamber of Commerce, Beijing, China; Guest Professor, Environmental Management College of China, Qinghuangdao, China; Member of Board of Councillor’s for China-US Centre for Sustainable Development, Beijing, China and Portland, USA. Mr. Sonntag received his B.A.Sc in Engineering Physics and his M.Sc., Business Administration from the University of British Columbia.
Inquiries: Jonathan Burke, Phone: 604-718-2046, Email: invest@westport.com. ###