Executive Bios — Pierre Bertrand

As vice president of finance for EMS SATCOM, Pierre Bertrand holds management responsibilities for the company's finance, project accounting, budgeting and planning functions. He reports directly to Gary Hebb, EMS SATCOM’s General Manager and to Don Scartz, Chief Financial Officer, EMS Technologies.

Bertrand was part of the EMS SATCOM team that transitioned the company from aerospace research to a product manufacturing. His finance and project accounting experience helped the company clarify its true financial position at a turbulent time and make the decisions that allowed the company’s to maintain a high yearly growth rate over the last five years.

Today Bertrand’s team faces the challenges of maintaining financial controls during a period of fast growth. Bertrand is focused on planning and preparing the financial tools and decisions the SATCOM division needs for success in the long term. Bertrand’s finance credentials include a long association with EMS SATCOM and 30 years of finance experience including postings at other manufacturing companies during periods of very high growth.

Early in his career, Bertrand was the controller at two Mitel manufacturing plants during a period when Mitel was doubling its sales revenues yearly for seven years. After Mitel, Bertrand worked for General Dynamics Canada and Lockheed Canada. He joined EMS SATCOM for the first time in 1993 and was responsible for the preparation of the d financial information, overseeing financial staff and coordinating the company's outlook and budgeting processes.

Prior to rejoining EMS SATCOM in 2006, Bertrand was the Director of Finance and contracts at another aerospace product manufacturing company, DRS technologies Canada.

Bertrand is strongly involved with development, manufacturing and defense operations in Ottawa. He recently completed a 4 year term as treasurer of the Canadian Defense Industry Association, an association representing over 300 defense contracting companies.

Bertrand holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of Ottawa and a Professional Accounting Designation (CMA). He currently resides in Ottawa, Canada and is the father of two adult children.