EVP Marc Parent Promoted To Head The Company

CAE announced Wednesday that Robert E. Brown, CAE's President and CEO, will retire on September 30, 2009 and Marc Parent, CAE's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will succeed Mr. Brown as President and CEO at that time. Mr. Brown will continue as an advisor until the end of December 2009.

CAE makes simulation and modeling technologies, as well as integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defence forces worldwide.

"Bob Brown has brought financial discipline, healthy governance and strong growth to CAE. He has made diversification a strategic priority and CAE is now well positioned and enjoys the benefits of a strong balance sheet and a well balanced portfolio among markets, products, services and regions. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank him for his strong leadership," said Lynton R. Wilson, CAE's Chairman of the Board. "After a thorough selection process, the Board has appointed Marc Parent as his successor. Marc is an outstanding leader with a proven performance record. He has been a key player in CAE's success over the past four and half years and we are convinced he is the best choice, especially during this challenging environment."

CAE Flight Simulator File Photo

Robert E. Brown became President and CEO of CAE on August 12, 2004. Under his leadership, CAE's annual revenue grew 77 percent, net debt decreased 46 percent, and backlog increased by 39 percent to a record $2.75 billion (US). Despite the economic downturn, CAE's workforce grew to more than 6,500 employees which is 1,500 more than at the beginning of Mr. Brown's mandate. CAE  has become the world's largest commercial aviation training company and the second largest in business aviation training. Its military business garnered record-breaking orders and continued to expand its operations and customer base. Under Mr. Brown's leadership CAE invested heavily in innovation and launched more than $1.46 billion (US) in R&D projects.

"I would like to thank CAE's employees as well the management team for the quality of their work and their dedication. They have made my five years at CAE extremely rewarding," said Mr. Brown. "I am confident that Marc and his team will continue to lead CAE to new levels of success. He already has responsibility for all of CAE's business segments and has done an excellent job in achieving superior results."

"I am privileged to follow in Mr. Brown's footsteps," said Mr. Parent. "I am also proud to work with the men and women of CAE who are the best in the world in their field. Together we will continue to grow our company by leading in our core markets, listening to our customers, leveraging our core competencies in other industries and investing in innovation."

CAE Flight Simulator File Photo

Marc Parent joined CAE in February 2005 as Group President, Simulation Products, responsible for two of CAE's businesses: the design and manufacture of simulation products for the civil and military markets. His role was expanded in May 2006, when he was appointed Group President, Simulation Products and Military Training & Services. He was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2008 and became responsible for all four of CAE's segments as well as the new growth initiatives. He also became a member of CAE's Board of Directors in November 2008.

Mr. Parent, who has 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry, began his career at Bombardier Aerospace where he held senior positions of increasing responsibility in engineering, management, product development and operations at Bombardier's facilities in Montreal, Toronto, Wichita and Tucson. In 1999, Mr. Parent was honored as one of "Canada's Top 40 under 40" leaders.

Mr. Parent is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aero Montreal, Montreal's aerospace cluster. He is also Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI).

FMI: www.cae.com