Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association Announces Appointment of Eric Denhoff as New President and CEO

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - May 12, 2011) - The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) today announced that its board of directors has named Eric Denhoff to serve as the organization's new President and CEO.

Mr. Denhoff has served as a Chief Treaty Negotiator for the Government of Canada and as a Chief Treaty Negotiator for BC Hydro.

He is a respected leader who has made an impact through his extensive career in government and the private sector. The Canadian hydrogen and fuel cell sector will benefit from his depth of experience in complex, consensus-building roles.

Over his extensive career, he has also built a solid foundation of organizational leadership experience in diverse roles including Chairman and Acting CEO of BC Transit, Chairman of Western Executive Selection, Chairman of the SNC-Lavalin B.C. Development Board, and as Deputy Minister assigned to BC Trade. He has significant international trade and business development experience in Europe and Asia representing both private and public sector organizations.

During Mr. Denhoff's tenure at BC Transit, the corporation was the first in North America to launch a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell transit bus demonstration project, and he served on the Ballard Power Advisory Board.

The association board unanimously selected Mr. Denhoff based on his successful track record in challenging, complex roles, as well as his strong executive and personal qualities.

"The sector has reached a critical commercialization threshold. Eric's extensive experience will provide the strategic leadership, as well as the influential voice, our sector requires as we move towards fully commercializing this important clean energy technology and realizing the economic and environmental benefits of hydrogen and fuel cells," said John Sheridan, CHFCA Board Chair and President & CEO of Ballard Power Systems.

The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association is the national association representing Canada's world-recognized, clean energy hydrogen and fuel cell sector. Its members represent an important, strategic "green jobs" base and are a contributor to Canada's clean technology capacity. Hydrogen and fuel cell technology has a vital role to play in the transportation, stationary power, logistics and alternative energy sectors.

"The hydrogen and fuel cell sector is one of Canada's most important contributions to the world's energy and environmental challenges," Mr. Denhoff said. "I look forward to working with our member organizations to build upon the CHFCA's successes and accelerating the growth of this exciting sector."

Mr. Denhoff will start as President and CEO effective July 4, 2011. John Tak, current CHFCA President and CEO, will continue to lead the association until that time.

"The CHFCA board of directors thanks John Tak for his leadership during his six years as the association's President and CEO," said John Sheridan. "He has provided a solid foundation of achievements for the sector to build upon."