Leads Rideau’s New Vistance Technology Solutions Company for Cloud Computing 
 

 (Montreal and New York City, April 20, 2011) Rideau Recognition Solutions announced today the launch of a new company, Vistance, and the appointment of Jay Whitehead as President. Jay’s goal is to establish presence and value for Vistance by focusing on IT-driven growth by using his established presence in the Global HR industry as the past president and publisher of HRO Today and Corporate Responsibility Magazines. Rideau’s current employee recognition clients include dozens of leading global companies such as Boeing, Intel, Oracle, RBC, TD, Liberty Mutual and H&R Block, some of which are already using Rideau’s SaaS technology. 

“Having served on the Rideau Board of Directors since 2007, we are confident that Jay Whitehead will establish and quickly propel Vistance Technology Solutions to the global HR community as a valuable and necessary component for all forward-thinking companies,” said Peter Hart, President & CEO of parent company, Rideau Recognition Solutions. “With Vistance, we are now positioned for a period of rapid high-margin growth fueled by cloud computing technologies”.   

“Jay Whitehead’s years of work on the company’s board helped drive several new financial best practices and technology offerings,” says Gord Feeney, former Deputy Chairman of RBC, former Chairman of Canada Post and current Chairman of Rideau’s Board of Directors.

“It’s rare to find someone whose business background, industry depth and network of relationships matches so well with a company’s growth and capital market plans. The timing of this announcement could not be better,” says former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson, Rideau’s Vice Chairman of the Board.    

Jay Whitehead brings over 25 years of success leading companies in HR and B2B media and HR technology.  He founded several top B2B media properties in Human Resources and Corporate Responsibility in North America and Europe, including HRO Today, HRO Europe and Corporate Responsibility Magazines and their accompanying conference series.   Jay’s HR technology leadership experience includes CEO of web-based HR outsourcing pioneer EmployeeService.com.  Author of the book, The Post-Carbon Economy (2009), Jay is a frequent contributor to CNBC and Forbes.com.  He will continue to serve as Publisher Emeritus and editorial contributor for Corporate Responsibility Magazine.
 
“Two trends will favorably affect both Rideau and Vistance and are the reasons I’ve joined the company,” says Jay Whitehead. “First, is research showing that recognition is the most cost-effective means for employers to impact behaviors that drive revenues and reduce critical costs such as healthcare. And, second, is how rapidly cloud computing is helping companies drive cost savings and global expansion. Rideau is the company best positioned to take advantage of both of these critical technology-led trends.”

 

 

Rideau provides market-leading recognition and rewards solutions and cloud computing technologies to Global 2000 employers worldwide to boost revenues, manage employer costs, increase employee performance and exceed customer expectations. Privately held with headquarters in Montreal and offices in New York City, Paris and Bangalore, Rideau celebrates its 100^th anniversary in 2012.   Rideau is named after Rideau Hall; the capital city residence of Canada’s Governor General since 1867 and Canada’s equivalent to America’s White House. Find more information about the company at www.rideau.com.

 

About Vistance Technology Solutions, a Rideau Recognition Solutions, Inc. Company