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Mr. Francis brings over twenty-five years of experience across a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, distribution, services, and SaaS. He will lead the Company’s design and implementation of IT architecture, systems, and cyber security, ensuring that META’s information technology capabilities are state-of-the-art and more than adequate to meet all ongoing global regulatory and compliance requirements. He will also provide valuable insights into potential monetization of the data that META’s emerging products are likely to generate.

Mr. Francis’ experience spans Information Technology Solutions, Digital Transformation and Cyber Security, including management of complex environments and leadership of large multidisciplinary teams in diversified industries, publicly traded and multinational, geographically distributed companies. Mr. Francis joins META from Domtar, Inc., a fiber-based products company he joined in 2009. Domtar was listed on the TSX and NYSE, prior to the 2021 acquisition by the Paper Excellence Group. As Senior Director, IT Shared Services & Cyber Security, he managed a team of 120 personnel and led the integration of multiple acquired companies into standard centralized IT solutions, implementing programs for data and asset protection and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Prior to Domtar, Mr. Francis was Director IS & e-business with Bentley Leather, where he was responsible for IT and the e-commerce P&L. He served as Director Infrastructure & Operations with Campaigner, Inc., a cloud-based software company, where he managed 24×7 support of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) production and R&D environments. As Manager IT Operations with Aeroplan, he developed a global operations function, managing technology transfer, a team, and external service providers. Mr. Francis began his career in 1996 with Yves Rocher North America Inc., where he served for nine years as IT Operations Manager, building systems for supply chain, manufacturing, warehouse management, CRM, and call center operations.

Mr. Francis studied at McGill University in Management Information Systems and completed an Executive Management Business Administration program at McGill Executive Institute and course work toward a CISM certification. He is a member of the Industry Cyber Security Forum at the University of North Florida, Coggin College of Business, and a CISO governing body member at Evanta, a Gartner Company.