CALGARY, Canada - May 27, 2004 - Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX:WIN), a global provider of broadband wireless communication products and technologies, today announced the appointment of George R. Horhota, Co-Founder, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Suiteworks Inc., to the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Horhota will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. Robert Schulz from the board in March 2004 and will serve as a member of the board’s Audit Committee.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome George Horhota to our board, " said Hatim Zaghloul, Executive Chairman, Wi-LAN Inc. "I am confident that his extensive, highly relevant business experience, understanding of telecommunications and broadband convergence, and expertise in corporate strategy execution will be a tremendous asset during a key time in our company’s development."
"I am excited to have this opportunity to apply my entrepreneurial, telecommunications and financial abilities within the context of a talented group such as Wi-LAN’s Board of Directors," said George Horhota, Director, Wi-LAN Inc.
Mr. Horhota founded and led Royal Bank of Canada’s Information Technology and Media Portfolio Group in Corporate Banking between 1993 and 1996 and was seconded from his earlier Systems and Technology position with the bank to serve one year as President (1991 to 1992) and three years as a Director with the Canadian Business Telecommunications Alliance. He then went on to become Chief Financial Officer and Vice President Corporate Development with TSE-listed ACC Canada until 1998 when its NASDAQ listed parent corporation, ACC Corp., was acquired by AT&T Corp. Subsequently, Mr. Horhota spent 3 years as President of Cannect Networks, Canada’s first packet-based CLEC, then in 2002 joined BCE Emergis Inc. as its Vice President of Operations before founding Suiteworks Inc. in the later part of 2003. Mr. Horhota is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, having received a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and was a founding Director of Humber College’s Telecommunications Learning Institute.
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About Wi-LAN Inc.
Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, offering businesses, including telecom service providers, and government enterprises effective, economic and secure wireless high-speed communications solutions. Wi-LAN specializes in high-speed Internet access, data network extension, and wireless data and telephony backhaul, utilizing its high quality products and industry-leading technologies. Wi-LAN believes its W-OFDM patents are necessary for the implementation of devices using the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN Standard (1) and the ETSI BRAN HiperMAN(1) standard (the WiMAX Forum(1) standards), the IEEE standards 802.11a and 802.11g (the 2nd generation WiFi Alliance(1) standards), and the ETSI BRAN HiperLAN/2(1) standard. Wi-LAN licenses its W-OFDM technology and has executed non-exclusive W-OFDM license agreements with semiconductor companies. Wi-LAN is the Chair Company of the OFDM Forum (
www.ofdm-forum.com) and an active member of the WiMAX Forum (
www.wimaxforum.org). Wi-LAN's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WIN." Detailed information on Wi-LAN can be found at
www.wilan.com.
Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, may include forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties. These may include, without limitation, statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties related to all aspects of the wireless communications industry. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not restricted to, continued increased demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to maintain its technological leadership in the field of high-speed wireless communications, the Company's ability to attract and retain key employees, the enforceability of the Company's patents, and the availability of key components.
These uncertainties may cause actual results to differ from information contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.
(1) All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.
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For more information please contact:
Wi-LAN Inc.
Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Ken Wetherell
Ph: (403) 207-6329
E-mail:
kwetherell@wi-lan.com