The Accelerator Centre Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

WATERLOO – The Accelerator Centre® (AC), an award-winning centre for the cultivation of technology entrepreneurship located in Waterloo, Ontario, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Salvini to the role of Accelerator Centre CEO and Associate Vice-President, Research Commercialization at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Salvini, a seasoned executive with proven experience in growing highly profitable, world-class technology companies, comes to the Accelerator Centre from Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc., where he served as Chief Technology Officer guiding the company’s global research and innovation strategy. Prior to Christie, Dr. Salvini was CTO at Toronto-based Side Effects Software, where he led an award-winning team of mathematicians and software developers in the creation of 3D animation and visual effects software for Hollywood feature films. He is an active leader within the local and digital media communities serving on numerous boards including as Chair of GRAND (Canada’s Digital Media Network of Centres of Excellence) and President of the University of Waterloo Alumni Council. In 2007, Dr. Salvini was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™, a national award that honors individuals for outstanding achievements in innovation, leadership, vision, and community involvement.

Dr. Salvini will assume his new Accelerator Centre and University of Waterloo responsibilities in late August.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to welcome Paul to the AC,” says Michael Stork, Chairman of the Board for the Accelerator Centre. “He is an experienced leader, mentor and collaborator, with deep expertise in both technology and business, and extensive entrepreneurship experience in the creation, funding and operation of new companies, as well as growing and expanding existing companies. Paul brings to the AC extensive connections throughout the technology and digital media community, a fresh vision for growth and expansion, and a track record for transforming vision into reality that has us all very excited for the possibilities that lie ahead.”

University of Waterloo Vice-President of University Research, George Dixon, offered his congratulations on Dr. Salvini’s appointment:

“Paul is a proven leader in technology commercialization. His technical expertise, leadership abilities, and business acumen is widely respected and admired within the commercial enterprise and within academic communities. We warmly welcome Paul into his role as Associate Vice President of Commercialization at the University of Waterloo.”

Dr. Salvini holds a BMath degree in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, MASc and PhD degrees in Engineering from the University of Toronto, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He lives in Kitchener with his wife and two children.

Read the original article and more about the Accelerator Centre here.

Read other articles about Dr. Salvini’s appointment by Communitech, Techvibes, BetaKit, and The Record.