Two Bell leaders recognized as Top Women of Influence

Karen Sheriff, President and CEO of Bell Aliant, and Mary Ann Turcke, Bell's Executive Vice President of Field Operations, named to the Top 25

HALIFAX and MONTRÉAL, Sept. 2, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - BCE Inc. congratulates two of its leaders recognized today among Canada's Top 25 Women of Influence: Karen Sheriff, President and CEO of Bell Aliant, and Mary Ann Turcke, Executive Vice President of Field Operations for Bell Canada.

"Karen and Mary Ann are respected leaders in Canadian business widely renowned for their strategic vision and insight, team building skills, and ability to execute in a competitive and fast-changing communications marketplace," said George Cope, President and CEO of BCE and Bell Canada. "On behalf of the national Bell team, I thank Women of Influence for recognizing these two talented leaders and extend sincere congratulations to Mary Ann and Karen."

The Top 25 Women of Influence program (womenofinfluence.ca) honours women who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in business, health care, non-governmental organizations, professional services, and the public sector.

Karen Sheriff was appointed President and CEO of Bell Aliant in 2008, and has led the company in its game-changing fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network build. In 2012, she was named Woman of the Year by Canadian Women in Communications (CWC) and has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women 3 times. She was named to the Women's Executive Network (WXN) Top 100 Women Hall of Fame after several repeat wins. She is a director of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, and a member of the New Brunswick Business Council.

Mary Ann Turcke is Executive Vice President of Bell Field Operations, responsible for all installation, repair and support of Bell TV, Internet and business communications products, including the company's fast-growing Fibe TV service. A 3-time WXN Top 100 award winner, Mary Ann was inducted into the WXN Top 100 Hall of Fame in 2013. Mary Ann is a director of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and serves on the advisory board of the Queen's School of Business.

About BCE

BCE is Canada's largest communications company, providing a comprehensive and innovative suite of broadband communication services to residential and business customers under the Bell and Bell Aliant brands. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels. To learn more, please visit BCE.ca.

The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk and Bell Let's Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace programs. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

SOURCE: BCE Inc.

Media inquiries: Jacqueline Michelis, BCE Communications, 613 785-1427, [email protected], @Bell_News