Technology >> CEO Interviews >> September 24, 2001
FRANCIS N. SHEN is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aastra
Technologies Limited. He holds both a Bachelor's and a Masters' degree
in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto and since 1983
has been certified as a Professional Engineer in the Province of
Ontario. In 1983 Mr. Shen and a partner acquired Aastra and focused the
company on research and development projects in the defense and
aerospace industries. During the late 1980s, Aastra won a number of
major research contracts. In the early 1990s, Mr. Shen was instrumental
in moving the company into its current focus on the design, development
and marketing of telecommunications products for the consumer market. As
the Chief Executive Officer of Aastra, Mr. Shen is particularly focused
on new product research, market development, strategic planning and
building alliances for Aastra's future business growth. Mr. Shen was
recently named Ontario's 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Technology
and Communications category by Ernst & Young Canada. Profile
Technologies Limited?
Mr. Shen: The company originally was in the aerospace and defense market
back in the 1980s. And then at
