Technology Industry Executives Join Gemcom Senior Management Team as Chief Financial Officer and Minex Business Unit Director
VANCOUVER, Canada – February 8, 2010 – Gemcom Software International Inc., the largest global supplier of specialised mining productivity solutions, today announced that it has appointed to its senior management team Eric Palmer as chief financial officer (CFO), and Ben Farquharson as director of the Company’s Minex business unit. Mr. Palmer returns to Canada to join Gemcom following successful tenures with several high-tech companies in the United States. Mr. Farquharson is moving into a new role with the Company, having most recently managed its Asia Pacific sales territory.
“I am delighted to welcome Eric and Ben to Gemcom’s executive team. They both bring significant, global experience in helping to drive growth at technology companies, while delivering new value to clients,” said Rick Moignard, Gemcom’s president and CEO. “The mining industry is seeking out new and better ways to manage their operations to increase profitability and unlock longer-term value. As a key provider of many of the software and services that mining companies rely on, Gemcom’s objective is to provide them with tools and expertise they need to make this possible. The appointment of Eric and Ben underline our commitment to ensuring we have the talent in place to continue to excel at how we achieve this.”
Eric Palmer – Chief Financial Officer
Eric Palmer is a chartered accountant and a certified management accountant, who holds a BBA from Wilfred Laurier University. He has held the position of CFO, along with other senior management roles, with technology companies for 15 years. Most recently, he was the CFO with Nu Flow, a water technology provider, where he oversaw the completion of three strategic acquisitions. Immediately prior to this he was the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development – Mergers and Acquistions with Subex Azure Limited, a developer and marketer of software employed by telecommunications carriers.
Mr. Palmer began his career as a lecturer at Wilfred Laurier University, later moving on to work with KPMG and KPMG Management Consulting, before becoming CFO and vice president of finance with Mortice Kern Systems, a developer of software targeted at Global 1000 companies. For seven years he held senior positions, including the role of CFO, with Syndesis Limited, a provider of software and services to telecommunications companies.
“Gemcom is a world-class organisation and the clear leader in its market space. It has an excellent, global team in place and a fantastic client base who have year over year demonstrated their loyalty to the software and services it provides,” said Eric Palmer, Gemcom’s CFO. “What impresses me about Gemcom is the level of commitment it has to understanding the needs of the industry and its clients, which it is addressing through the breadth and depth of capabilities its software and staff provide. Together with the rest of the Gemcom staff, I look forward to helping to continue to grow the business further by leveraging the solid foundation that has been defined thus far.”
Ben Farquharson – Director of Minex Business Unit Ben Farquharson, who has been with Gemcom since 2006, has been promoted to the role of director of Minex business unit, transitioning from his position as sales manager of the Company’s Asia Pacific territory. In Asia Pacific, he expanded the presence of Minex in the marketplace, bringing this geology and mine planning software developed specifically for coal and other stratified deposits into both greenfield operations, and mature operations through the replacement of other technologies.
Mr. Farquharson, who is based in the Company’s Perth office, holds an MBA from the University of Western Australia, and has over 15 years of experience as a manager, team leader, and sales professional with multi-national, high-tech organisations. During the last eight years of his career, he has specialised in helping mining companies increase efficiency by implementing cutting-edge technology and professional service solutions. Prior to joining Gemcom, he has worked in senior sales executive and management roles for companies including Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company.
“Working closely with clients in Asia Pacific over the past three years, I have seen firsthand the impact our software has had on lowering costs and improving efficiencies at the operations that have adopted it. I am delighted to have the opportunity to oversee the continued growth of the Minex software and services business. Minex is a tremendous product that provides mining clients with exceptional capabilities not found in other software, which is why I am so passionate about it,” said Ben Farquharson, director of Gemcom’s Minex business unit.
About Gemcom
When mining companies seek to increase mine productivity, they turn to Gemcom for technology and services. The Company is home to world-renowned mining solutions like GEMS, Surpac, Minex, Whittle, and InSite and to industry thought-leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mining. Established in 1985, Gemcom has a global reach delivering comprehensive solutions in all major mining centres in more than 90 countries. Every major mining company, including BHP Billiton, Codelco, De Beers, Newmont and Vale is a Gemcom client. Through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the Company has become the largest global supplier of specialised mining productivity solutions. For more information, visit www.gemcomsoftware.com.
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GEMS, Surpac, Minex, Whittle, MineSched, PCBC, Gemcom InSite, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Gemcom Software International Inc.
For more information contact:
Mark Bese, Marketing Communications Manager
+1 604 684 6550, ext. 4481
[email protected]