Avigilon Corporation (TSX:AVO), a leading global provider of end-to-end security solutions, announced the appointment of Fred Withers, FCA, former partner and chief development officer for Ernst & Young, to its board of directors and audit committee.

Mr. Withers, who recently retired, has over 30 years of experience with Ernst & Young, including significant involvement in the firm’s governance and operations as a member of its executive committee.

In addition, he led numerous strategic acquisitions throughout Canada for Ernst & Young, adding significant revenues and over 400 people to its national operations.

“Fred has a broad scope of experience working with clients across a wide variety of industry sectors and has strong strategic business acumen,” said Alexander Fernandes, founder, president, CEO and chairman of the board, Avigilon. “We look forward to his contributions as we continue to expand our business globally.”

“Avigilon is a key player in the technology sector and has, time and time again, demonstrated great success through its innovative solutions,” said Mr. Withers. “I look forward to participating in the Company’s continued growth and development.”

Mr. Withers was a partner of Ernst & Young in Vancouver for 27 years and the managing partner for British Columbia for ten years. Most recently, he served as the firm’s chief development officer, Canada.

In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of strategic acquisitions for Ernst & Young Canada. Mr. Withers was also an assurance partner and since 1987, managed a portfolio of assurance clients, which included public and private companies, based both in Canada and the United States.

As a senior advisory partner with Ernst & Young, Mr. Withers served a number of clients in the energy, real estate, technology, transportation, healthcare and wholesale/distribution industries.

Throughout his career, he also advised clients on complex capital market and financial transactions, led a number of IPOs, and assisted public and private companies in the conversion from Canadian GAAP to IFRS accounting principles.

Dedicated to community involvement, Mr. Withers is the chair of the Vancouver Symphony Society, director of the Vancouver Symphony Endowment Fund Foundation and vice-chair of the Sauder School of Business Faculty Advisory Board.

Among other volunteer roles, he was also previously director and vice-chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade, trustee and chair of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, director and chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Vancouver and director and treasurer of the New Ventures BC Society.