- Oliver Wels Assumes Responsibility for the Company’s Global
Operations
- David L. Turney Continues as Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
DRI
Corporation (DRI) (NASDAQ: TBUS), a digital communications
technology leader in the global surface transportation and transit
security markets, announced today that Oliver Wels was appointed
President of DRI Corporation, effective March 25, 2010.
As recommended by David L. Turney and approved by DRI's Board of
Directors, Mr. Wels assumes full responsibility for the Company's global
operations in anticipation of management's accelerated growth plans. Mr.
Turney continues as the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer.
Mr. Turney said: "It is with great pleasure that I announce the
well-earned and deserved promotion of Oliver to lead our worldwide
operations. Since 2005, he has led our international operations from
less than $20 million in annual revenues to an anticipated $70
million-plus in annual revenues and corresponding earnings in fiscal
year 2010. By shifting some of my workload to Oliver and his team, I
will be better able to concentrate on accelerating future growth,
strategic matters, investor relations, and the overall expansion of the
entire organization. By assuming responsibility and authority for all
operations worldwide, Oliver can better coordinate synergies at all
levels in all operations through greater cross utilization of our
assets."
Mr. Wels responded: "I am very excited about this opportunity and
increased responsibility. I am extremely thankful for the trust provided
by our Chairman and the entire Board of Directors, and I am deeply
optimistic about the Company's future. This will enable me to direct our
worldwide teams as a combined entity to accomplish additional growth and
increase profitability, and it will help advance career opportunities
for DRI team members."
ABOUT OLIVER WELS
Mr. Wels, age 44, has more than 20 years' experience in the
international bus and coach industry. Prior to being appointed to his
present position, he served as Chief Operating Officer of DRI's Mobitec
business group based in Sweden since July 2007. Previously, he served as
Managing Director of the Company's Mobitec GmbH subsidiary in Germany
from March 2005 to July 2007.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Wels held key positions at Carrier
Sütrak, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carrier Corporation/United
Technologies in Syracuse, N.Y., that provides air conditioning products
for buses, coaches, and rail cars in Europe, the Middle East, and
Africa. While there, he served as Sales Director from 2001 to 2005 and
managed the marketing and distribution network development program from
1998 to 2001.
From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Wels served as Product Manager for Mobitec®
products in Germany under an agreement between Mobitec AB and Carrier
Sütrak.
From 1986 to 1995, Mr. Wels was Bus and Coach Sales Manager for Western
Europe at Ortner and Gollmann, a sales and distribution company based in
Germany. From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Wels served that organization in various
developmental roles.
Mr. Wels holds an MBA in General Management from Sankt Gallen University
in Switzerland with undergraduate studies in Business Administration.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
DRI Corporation is a digital communications technology leader in the
global surface transportation and transit security markets. Our products
include: TwinVision® and Mobitec® electronic destination sign systems,
Talking Bus® voice announcement systems, Digital Recorders®
Internet-based passenger information and automatic vehicle
location/monitoring systems, and VacTell® video actionable intelligence
systems. Our products help increase the mobility, flow, safety, and
security of people who rely upon transportation infrastructure around
the globe. Using proprietary hardware and software applications, our
products provide easy-to-understand, real-time information that assists
users and operators of transit bus and rail vehicles in locating,
identifying, boarding, tracking, scheduling, and managing those
vehicles. Our products also aid transit vehicle operators in their quest
to increase ridership and reduce fuel consumption, as well as to
identify and mitigate security risks on transit vehicles. Positioned not
only to serve and address mobility, energy conservation, and
environmental concerns, our products also serve the growing U.S.
Homeland Security market. For more information about the Company and its
operations worldwide, go to www.digrec.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In
particular, statements regarding the potential benefits of Mr. Wels'
appointment as President on the potential operations, growth, and
profitability of the Company; anticipated international revenues and
corresponding earnings in fiscal year 2010; as well as any statement,
express or implied, concerning future events or expectations or which
use words such as "suggest," "expect," "fully expect," "expected,"
"appears," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," "would," "should," "goal,"
"potential," "potentially," "range," "pursuit," "run rate," "stronger,"
"preliminarily," "guidance," "may," etc., is a forward-looking
statement. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including the risk that Mr. Wels' appointment will not
bring about the desired beneficial results or that anticipated
international revenues and corresponding earnings in fiscal year 2010
may not occur, as well as risks and uncertainties set forth in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 31, 2009, and quarterly report on
Form 10-Q filed Nov. 16, 2009, particularly those identified in Risk
Factors Affecting Our Business. There can be no assurance that any
expectation, express or implied, in a forward-looking statement will
prove correct or that the contemplated event or result will occur as
anticipated.
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DRI Corporation Contact: Veronica B. Marks Vice
President, Corporate Communications Phone: (214) 378-4776 Fax:
(214) 378-8437 E-Mail: ir@digrec.com |