UTS Energy Corporation says that its Board of Directors has approved the management team that will lead SilverBirch Energy Corporation (SilverBirch) effective upon completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement with Total E&P Canada Ltd.

The management team will be led by Mr. Howard Lutley, P.Eng as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lutley has been the Vice President of Mining and Extraction of UTS since September 2004. He is a professional engineer with over 30 years experience with engineering and development of surface and underground mines. He has been involved in all phases of the development of the Equinox and Frontier Projects, which will be SilverBirch's principal assets. Prior to joining UTS, Mr. Lutley was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwest Corporation, an internationally recognized leader in providing consulting expertise in the energy, mining and natural resource industries.

The SilverBirch management team will also include the following individuals, all of whom are currently members of the UTS management team: • Wayne Bobye - Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - Mr. Bobye has been Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of UTS since 2005. He has over 30 years in the oil and gas industry, with significant emphasis on debt and capital market financing relating to the construction and operation of large projects.

• Susan Pain - Vice President, Finance - Ms. Pain has been the Controller of UTS since 2007 and has been an integral part of the finance team since she commenced work with UTS in 2002. Prior to joining UTS, Ms. Pain spent 17 years in public practice with a number of chartered accounting firms providing service to clients in a wide range of industries.

• Phil Aldred - Vice President, Resources - Mr. Aldred has been Exploration Manager with UTS since 2006 and responsible for the planning and execution of UTS' exploration field programs. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including assignments with resource management teams responsible for natural gas and oil sands development in northeastern Alberta.

• Cam Bateman - Vice President, Projects - Mr. Bateman has been responsible for regulatory and stakeholder affairs at UTS since 2007. He has over 27 years of experience in mine development and reclamation planning; mine licensing and permitting; environmental impact assessment, monitoring and mitigation; stakeholder relations and land acquisition and administration.

• Jina Abells Morissette - Vice President, Legal and Administration - Ms. Abells Morissette has been responsible for UTS' legal affairs since 2004. She is formerly from Husky Energy Inc. where she provided legal advice for six years primarily for the Canadian Offshore and International Business Group. Ms. Abells Morissette will be responsible for human resources and information technology, as well as legal matters at SilverBirch.

Dr. William Roach, P.Eng, the current President and Chief Executive Officer of UTS, has advised the UTS Board of Directors that he intends to remain with UTS through completion of the plan of arrangement and to assist Mr. Lutley as he transitions into the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of SilverBirch.

Dr. Roach stated that 'The SilverBirch management team is comprised of a high quality group of individuals with immense experience and knowledge with respect to the Frontier and Equinox Projects as well as the other assets to be acquired by SilverBirch upon completion of the plan of arrangement. I anticipate this team will provide the management and operational expertise necessary to unlock the intrinsic value of SilverBirch's portfolio of existing assets and undeveloped lands through organic growth'.

'On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr. Roach for his tremendous commitment to the development of UTS. Dr. Roach has been instrumental in the success of UTS over the past six years and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors' said John Watson, Chair of the UTS Board of Directors.

Tags: UTS Energy Corp.