Canadian Information Productivity Awards names new CEO

	For More Information: Contact: norm.kirkpatrick@C.I.P.A..com (905) 695-6590

Robert Livingstone's appointment is 'at the heart of the Canadian IT industry'

TORONTO, Dec. 6, 2001 - The organization that manages Canada's largest technology awards program, and serves as a national institute for information management, has appointed a new chief executive.

The Board of Directors of the Canadian Information Productivity Awards Ltd. (C.I.P.A.) announced today that J. Robert Livingstone has been elected president and chief executive officer. He succeeds founding president Allan Singleton-Wood, who retired Nov. 22 at the C.I.P.A. Gala Banquet, the largest business event in the field of information management in Canada.

Livingstone has been publisher of Canadian Business Magazine, published by Rogers Publishing, since September 1999. Canadian Business and Capgemini Canada Inc. established C.I.P.A. in 1992, and continue as founding managing partners.

C.I.P.A. Chair Paul Jones, who is senior vice president, Rogers Publishing, and publisher of Maclean's, said Livingstone's appointment is at the heart of the Canadian IT industry, and will enable C.I.P.A. to grow with the sector as it rebounds in coming years.

Jones spoke to Livingstone's personal qualities: "As with our former CEO, Allan Singleton-Wood, Bob brings vision, energy and an easy manner in dealing with people. He has also been an advocate for the value of breakthrough technologies throughout his career."

Livingstone has served on the board of C.I.P.A. for two years and said the organization is an important part of Canada's national technology infrastructure.

"Information productivity is the result of innovation," Livingstone said. "C.I.P.A. is all about championing and celebrating innovation."

Livingstone has served in several publishing and marketing management capacities for Rogers publications since the 1970s. He is also a former president of Cable Publications Inc. of Boston, and a former chief operating officer of IdeaSeeker Inc., a business information publisher in California.

C.I.P.A. presents awards for outstanding business applications of information technology through an annual competition. It disseminates information about winning organizations and technologies at the Gala Banquet and through its Web site, www.C.I.P.A..com, and its magazine, Information Strategy. The Web site also houses the C.I.P.A. Hall of Fame, a permanent tribute to Canadian pioneers in information technology and management.