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For Immediate Release
Siim Vanaselja to retire as Chief Financial Officer of BCE in Q2 2015, to be succeeded by Bell
Aliant CFO Glen LeBlanc
MONTRÉAL and HALIFAX, October 14, 2014 BCE Inc. and Bell Aliant Inc. today announced that
Siim Vanaselja, Chief Financial Officer of BCE and Bell Canada, will retire in the second quarter
of 2015. Glen LeBlanc, currently CFO of BCE affiliate Bell Aliant, will become Chief Financial
Officer of BCE and Bell Canada at that time.
Our succession plan for the CFO role leverages the exceptional executive talent at the BCE group
of companies to ensure a smooth transition, said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and Bell
Canada. Siim Vanaselja has been a key leader in BCEs transformation into a re-energized
competitor in every sector of communications, building a robust capital markets strategy, guiding
important strategic acquisitions, and delivering on our commitment to shareholder value through
consistent dividend growth. Siim has worked closely for the last decade with his successor Glen
LeBlanc, an accomplished CFO who has helped build our Halifax-based affiliate Bell Aliant into one
of the best-run telcos in North America.
Mr. Vanaselja will retire after BCEs 2015 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for
April 30, 2015, and before the end of Q2 2015. He will continue to serve on the Board of Directors
of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).
As CFO of Canadas largest communications company since 2001, Siim Vanaselja has successfully
advanced the financial strength of the BCE group to the benefit of our customers, shareholders and
team. In both challenging and prosperous economic times, Siims integrity and expertise have earned
him the deepest respect of the financial community, government leaders and his industry peers and
BCEs most sincere thanks for his many accomplishments, said Tom ONeill, Chair of the Board of
BCE and Bell Canada. We look forward to working with Siim and Glen to ensure a smooth and
straightforward transition of the CFO role next spring.
Following the closing of BCEs privatization of Bell Aliant and until Mr. Vanaseljas retirement,
Mr. LeBlanc will serve as Senior Vice President, Finance for BCE. As CFO of BCE, he will be located
at the companys Montréal headquarters and will maintain an office at Bell Aliants headquarters in
Halifax.
Siim Vanaselja
Siim Vanaselja has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BCE Inc. and
Bell Canada since January 2001. He joined the BCE group in February 1994 and has held a range of
senior positions, including CFO of Bell Canada International from 1996 to 2001. Named in 2009 to
the federal Advisory Committee on Financing by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Mr. Vanaselja serves
on the boards of TransCanada, Great-West Lifeco and MLSE.
Glen LeBlanc
Glen LeBlanc has served more than 2 decades of his finance career with Bell Aliant and its
predecessor companies. Joining Aliant in 1993, he held increasingly senior executive positions
before being appointed Vice President, Finance and Controller in 2000 and Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer in 2005. Recognized as one of Canadas Top 40 Under 40, Mr. LeBlanc has
served on the board of Certified Management Accountants of Nova Scotia since 2005 and chairs the
Creating Champions campaign at Cape Breton University.
BCEs privatization of Bell Aliant
On July 23, 2014, BCE announced it will privatize its Bell Aliant affiliate, which BCE already
controlled, by acquiring the interest of public minority shareholders for approximately $3.95
billion. The transaction is expected to close on or about October 31, 2014 and a new regional
leader for Bell Aliant will be announced at that time.
Integrated into BCEs national operations, Bell Aliant will continue to serve customers in New
Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island from its Halifax
headquarters. BCE plans capital investment of $2.1 billion in Atlantic Canada over the next 5
years, including mobile 4G LTE expansion to more than 100 additional small towns and rural
locations across the region by the end of 2015. Bell also recently announced the acquisition of two
new call centres in New Brunswick that will bring 700 more Atlantic region jobs into the national
BCE team.
About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant is one of North Americas largest regional communications providers and the first
company in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology with its
FibreOP services. Through its operating entities, it serves customers in six Canadian provinces
with innovative information, communication and technology services, including voice, data,
Internet, video and value-added business solutions. Bell Aliants employees deliver the highest
quality of customer service, choice and convenience. For more information, please visit
BellAliant.ca.
About BCE
BCE is Canadas largest communications company, providing a comprehensive and innovative suite of
broadband communication services to residential and business customers under the Bell Canada and
Bell Aliant brands. Bell Media is Canadas premier multimedia company with leading assets in
television, radio, out of home and digital media, including CTV, Canadas #1 television network,
and the countrys most-watched specialty channels. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca.
Bell Lets Talk promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns
like Claras Big Ride for Bell Lets Talk and Bell Lets Talk Day and significant Bell funding of
community care and access, research, and workplace initiatives. Since 2010, Bell Lets Talk has
committed more than $67.5 million to support mental health programs in every region of Canada. To
learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
BCE
Jean Charles Robillard
(514) 870-4739
jeancharles.robillard@bell.ca
Bell Aliant
Jennifer MacIsaac
(902) 225-3704
jennifer.macIsaac@bellaliant.ca
Investor inquiries:
BCE
Thane Fotopoulos
BCE Investor Relations
(514) 870-4619
thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca
Bell Aliant
Zeda Redden
Toll-free: (877) 487-5726
zeda.redden@bellaliant.ca
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