Tom Wagner rejoins MCI, continuing the legacy of Patricia Ziska

Des Plaines, Illinois– September 6, 2022: (TSX: NFI, OTC: NFYEF, TSX: NFI.DB) Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”) and North America’s motor coach leader backed by reliable in-field technical expertise, 24/7 roadside assistance, and parts support, announced today that Tom Wagner has rejoined the company. Tom will be working alongside Patricia Ziska, Vice President of Private Sector Sales, who will retire at the end of the year after more than a four-decade career with MCI.

Upon Ziska’s retirement, Wagner will lead MCI’s team of regional sales vice presidents in the U.S. and Canada. The team sells new MCI models and pre-owned coaches to private sector operators.

Having joined the MCI’s public sector sales team in 2005, Wagner has built a 15-year career in MCI, rising to a vice president position before leaving in 2020 and joining another original equipment manufacturer.

Ziska, who has held many leadership roles within MCI and is widely respected throughout the industry, will work with Wagner and the MCI sales team prior to her retirement. Among the milestone achievements in her career is the launch of many new products and services, including the MCI J4500, the industry’s ongoing best-selling coach model.

“We value the talents Tom brings to his position and all that Pat has accomplished in her extraordinary career at MCI,” said Brent Maitland, Vice President, Private Sector Sales and Marketing. “Tom has a depth of experience managing complex contracts. He knows our product lines and manufacturing processes and has proven himself to be a strong sales leader. Tom helped to shape our reliability- and relationship-driven business philosophies and is both trusted and respected industry wide. He has the skills to lead our sales team and continue Pat’s legacy.”

While at MCI, Wagner contributed to the success of MCI’s D-Series Commuter Coach with public transit agencies, including New Jersey Transit, and was involved in the launch of the compressed natural gas and hybrid electric powertrain. He also helped to introduce the next generation, low-entry D45 CRT LE and its zero-emission, battery-electric version. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics from Northern Illinois University.

Ziska joined MCI in 1976 and became the company’s first female vice president in 1996. Her career achievements also include the launch of MCI’s earliest green marketing environmental campaigns for motor coaches. She has been an instrumental member of industry associations, including IMG, Trailways, UMA and ABA. She was an influential supporter of ABA’s Women in Buses and helped build the Motorcoach Marketing Council.

“MCI has provided me with an astounding career, and I value the friendships I’ve made along the way,” Ziska said. “Our leadership team will be strengthened by Tom’s contributions, and I look forward to many more MCI milestones ahead of us.”

About MCI

MCI is North America’s public and private market motor coach leader. Products include the luxury J-Series (an industry best-seller for over a decade), the workhorse D-Series, and the brand new zero-emission luxury and commuter coaches: the battery-electric J4500 CHARGE™ and MCI D45 CRT LE CHARGE™. MCI also provides maintenance, repair, 24-hour roadside assistance, parts, and technician training through the industry’s only Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accredited and award-winning MCI Academy.

About NFI

Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world. With zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.

With 7,500 team members in nine countries, NFI is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands New Flyer^® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI^® (motor coaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), ARBOC^® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell), natural gas, electric hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base of over 105,000 buses and coaches around the world. NFI’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol NFI and its convertible unsecured debentures trade on the TSX under the symbol NFI.DB. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.nfi.parts, www.alexander-dennis.com, www.arbocsv.com, and www.carfaircomposites.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of NFI Group that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including market and general economic conditions and economic conditions of and funding availability for customers to purchase buses and to purchase parts or services; customers may not exercise options to purchase additional buses; the ability of customers to suspend or terminate contracts for convenience; production may be delayed or production rates may be decreased as a result of the pandemic or ongoing and future supply chain disruptions and shortages of parts and components, shipping and freight delays, and disruption to labor supply; and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Due to the potential impact of these factors, the NFI Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Melanie McCreath
[email protected]

For investor inquiries, please contact:
Stephen King
P: 204.224.6382
[email protected]