FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2012-01-06

Sylvie C. Lafontaine, CA, Appointed Vice-President, Standards and Chief Financial Officer

Ottawa, Ontario (January 6, 2012)— The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sylvie C. Lafontaine as Vice-President, Standards and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ms. Lafontaine joined SCC as CFO in September 2010. Over the last 15 months, Ms. Lafontaine has made significant contributions to streamlining operations and implementing many cost containment measures.  Ms. Lafontaine will continue to have strategic oversight over the Finance and Corporate Management branch and its transformation while SCC welcomes a new Vice-President of Finance and Corporate Management, Ernie Briard, who will take over the operations of this branch.

"In her new role as the head of the Standards branch, Ms. Lafontaine will be focused on targeting committee work in economic sectors that yield the greatest long-term value for Canada,” says SCC’s Chief Executive Officer, John Walter. “Her breadth and depth of experience and her financial acumen will be an asset in implementing SCC’s new strategic direction for participation in standardization committees nationally, regionally and internationally.”

As vice-president of SCC’s Standards branch, Ms. Lafontaine oversees the organization’s Canadian and International Standards program. This program manages approval of National Standards of Canada, accreditation of Canadian organizations that develop standards, and facilitation of Canada’s participation in regional and international standards development activities. Additionally, Ms. Lafontaine will work closely with SCC’s Advisory Panel on Standards and SCC’s Consumer and Public Interest Panel, as well as with SCC’s Standards Development Organizations Advisory Committee(SDOAC) and the Canadian National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (CNC/IEC).

• More information on SCC’s Standards branch
• More information on SCC’s Finance & Corporate Management branch

 

Background

Before joining SCC, Ms. Lafontaine was responsible for strategic planning, enterprise risk management, corporate investment, and finance operations at Canada Post Corporation. In 2007, she was appointed to the position of CFO and Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance, Administration and Corporate Services, with Service Canada (part of the federal government department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada–HRSDC).  Previously, Ms. Lafontaine also held positions at the Royal Bank of Canada and at Ernst and Young.

Ms. Lafontaine is a chartered accountant and holds a bachelor of administration degree with a specialization in accounting from the Université du Québec en Outaouais.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is a Crown corporation and a portfolio of Industry Canada. With the goal of enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness and social well-being, the SCC offers accreditation services to standards development bodies, and coordinates the efforts of Canadians in the development and use of national and international standards. The SCC is the Canadian member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and sponsor of the Canadian national committee to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For additional information on the work of SCC, visit www.scc.ca or email [email protected]
 

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