John B. Chattoe, a 27-year veteran of the Canadian
     information technology industry, is the new president of the
     Information Technology Research Centre, a UW-based institute
     supported by the provincial Technology Ontario fund and by
     industry.
 
          Since 1980, Chattoe has held senior positions at
     Northern Telecom Canada, most recently as the vice-president
     for new business development. Previously, he directed
     networks product development at Bell-Northern Research,
     including PB, packet switching and fibre optics, and worked
     for Control Data Corp.  Chattoe holds BASc and MASc degrees
     in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto.
 
          He points to the recent telecommunications report for
     the Ontario government as a pivotal strategy to capture the
     potential of converging telecommunications and computer
     technologies. "I look forward to contributing to the
     development of a comprehensive R&D infrastructure for the
     province of Ontario," he said in a statement.  "Information
     technology is the cornerstone of our future prosperity."
 
          Chattoe cited his industry experience as a key factor
     in planning ITRC's research program, a mix of long- and
     short-term research, undertaken with Ontario industry. "ITRC
     is in a unique position to couple advanced research with
     Ontario's industrial capabilities," he said. "I plan to act
     as a catalyst for the process."
 
          Said a statement from David Gurney, who chairs ITRC's
     board:  "With renewed government funding, John can focus his
     efforts on an aggressive industrial outreach plan.  His
     achievements in industry will be crucial to the Centre's
     continued success."
 
          Established in 1988, the Information Technology
     Research Centre is a research institute, centred at UW and
     the University of Toronto, funded by a mixture of government
     and industry funds. It promotes fundamental and applied
     research in information technology. The results of the
     research program are transferred to Ontario industry through
     graduate students, direct collaboration, knowledge transfer
     and company networking.