TORONTO,(RushPRnews) 01/27/09– CNIB, Canada’s primary provider of vision health services, today announced the appointment of John M. Rafferty as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective March 2. Mr. Rafferty will replace current president and CEO Jim Sanders, who retires March 31. “John Rafferty is an exceptional business leader who is uniquely positioned to lead CNIB,” said Al Jameson, chair of CNIB’s national Board of Directors. “His skills and experience are an excellent fit for our organization.”
Mr. Rafferty has 13 years of national and international experience as a senior executive, most recently as chief operating officer of Canpages Inc., an online and print directory company he co-founded in 2006. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership positions with British Telecom in the UK, Verizon Information Services in Canada, Poland and China, and with Dun and Bradstreet in Canada.
“Today’s economic climate is bringing enormous challenges for charities,”said Mr. Jameson. “But we are confident that John’s business acumen and proven leadership skills will allow CNIB to meet its present and future challenges.”
“CNIB is a strong international leader in its field and an organization that makes a profound difference in people’s lives,” said Mr. Rafferty, adding that a close family member of his had vision loss, and he has always supported the organization. “I feel passionate about CNIB and its mission, and I look forward to contributing to its work.”
Mr. Jameson also offered his deep appreciation to CNIB’s outgoing president and CEO, Jim Sanders. “Jim is retiring after a distinguished 42-year career with CNIB. His many contributions, particularly during the last eight years as president and CEO, resulted in a revitalized brand and mission, a state-of-the-art digital library service, a renewed focus on research, and a steadfast commitment to excellence and innovation in CNIB services. Jim has been an outstanding ambassador for the organization, and we wish him well in his retirement.”
About CNIB:
CNIB is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to
public education, research and the vision health of all Canadians. CNIB
provides the services and support necessary to enjoy a good quality of life
while living with vision loss. To find out more, visit www.cnib.ca or call
1-800-563-2642.
For further information: or to arrange interviews, please contact: Yeena
Peng, Associate, Communications, CNIB, (416) 486-2500 ext. 8355,
yeena.peng@cnib.ca
