COMTEX) B: Platforms Appoints Francois M. Draper as New COO
B: Platforms Appoints Francois M. Draper as New COO
LOS ANGELES, Jun 21, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Platforms International
Corporation, (OTC: PLFM), ("PICTEL") the developer of the revolutionary Airborne
Relay Communications ("ARC") System for voice and data wireless communications,
announced today it has appointed Francois M. Draper as the Company's Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Draper has also assumed the position of Executive Director of ARC System
Technology. In this capacity, he will be in charge of directing and coordinating
the efforts of all Strategic Partners involved in the ARC System Production/BETA
Demonstration, scheduled to take place in Brazil in 4Q-2000.
Mr. Draper, formerly a Vice President of Bell Canada International ("BCI"),
assigned to AMERICEL S.A., as Vice President, Network Services, was responsible
for the planning, engineering, infrastructure development (construction),
operations, and maintenance of the AMERICEL S.A. cellular telecommunications
network. At AMERICEL, the first B Band Cellular Service Provider to go into
service in Brazil, Mr. Draper managed a staff of more than 100 engineers,
technicians, and support personnel, while directing the construction of more
than 250 cellular sites, 6 main switches, and 250 transmission links, across a
very large territory in record time -- less than two years from the date of
license grants. Mr. Draper also served as a member of the Board of Directors of
AMERICEL, as "Director Estatutario."
William Martin, Sr., Chairman of PICTEL stated: "Mr. Draper brings to Platforms
more than 30 years of top management industry experience, as well as the respect
of some of the leading telecommunications companies in the world. Having worked
on, and managed everything from turnkey telecom sites to mobile
telecommunications equipment, Mr. Draper will play a key role at Platforms. His
dynamic leadership qualities, backed up by seasoned, industry management
presence and experience, will provide key guideposts for charting the successful
course of our Company."
Mr. Draper commented: "I've been observing with a great deal of interest, as
Platforms transitions from a fledgling, entrepreneurial venture to a going
concern enterprise. The process is exhilarating, and I'm very pleased and proud
to be a part of it. I believed in this revolutionary, new technology from the
start. The strong management team behind it is committed to nothing less than
market leadership, and that's why I joined the team. Our Contract with
AMERICEL," added Mr. Draper, "gives us a First-to-Market, jump on the
competition, and a golden opportunity to play a key role in one of the fastest
growing wireless communications markets in the world."
Mr. Draper spent the past year on assignment for BCI in Taiwan, as Vice
President, Product Development and Strategic Planning for KG Telecommunications.
Prior to joining BCI and AMERICEL, Mr. Draper served as President and Chief
Operating Officer for Trylon-TSF Communications, an international, turnkey
provider of telecommunications sites. At Trylon-TSF, Mr. Draper increased
revenues 300% in 8 months, and introduced a number of significant new customers
to the business.
Mr. Draper also served as Director, Systems & Services for Harris Farnion
Corporation, a division of Harris Corporation, and a worldwide manufacturer of
telecommunications equipment, with 1,200 employees and revenues of $250 million.
At Harris Farnion, Mr. Draper directed the program management of more than 250
microwave projects per year, valued at over $100 million, in 40 countries. He
also managed a staff of 61 engineers, technicians and support staff.
Mr. Draper earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Royal
Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario in 1969.
About Platforms International
Platforms International Corporation, headquartered in Los Angeles, California,
is the developer and marketer of the revolutionary Airborne wireless
communications technology known as the Airborne Relay Communications "ARC"
System. The ARC System is the flagship product of the Company, and the strategic
focus of its wireless communications technology. This revolutionary advance in
the field of wireless communications is an all-broadband services,
communications platform designed to augment and/or replace conventional
ground-based telecommunication infrastructures, as well as high- and low-earth
orbiting satellite constellations -- at a fraction of the cost and time it takes
to deploy these systems. Platforms recently announced its first conditional
contract with Americel S.A., one of the leading and most progressive cellular
communications service providers in Brazil.
Safe Harbor Act Disclaimer
Certain statements in this news release may contain "forward-looking statements
and information" within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933
and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking
statements and information represent management's best estimates and projections
of anticipated future events, based on the interpretation of present business
conditions, and how such conditions may progress and/or move forward into the
future. However, any interpretation and projection of future events carries with
it inherent, unpredictable risk factors, which can cause actual results to vary
materially from the future projections and results referred to in such
forward-looking statements, including the performance of a successful ARC System
BETA Demonstration in Brazil, the Company's ability to sign up customers for its
ARC System, the Company's ability to penetrate higher-cost rural areas, and the
presence of strong competitors, who are better capitalized, equipped, and
staffed than Platforms International. Furthermore, there can be no assurance
that any forward-looking statements made in this news release will prove to be
accurate or even consistent with management's expectations. Actual results and
projected future events can differ materially from those anticipated in
forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Platforms International Corporation
CONTACT: Dick Wentner, 925-283-5877, or Ralph Smith, 213-705-0888, bot
for Platforms International; or Susan Bolen, 914-332-6514, or
Mike Gallo or
Harvey Goralnick, 212-752-9445, or plfm@focuspartners.com, al
of FOCUS
Partners, for Platforms International
URL: platforms-intl.com
prnewswire.com |
