VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 27, 2013) - Coast Wholesale Appliances Inc. (Coast or the company), today announced that Stephen T. Bellringer, MBA, LL.D. (Hon) has been appointed as a member and chairman of the company's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Bellringer takes over leadership of Coast's board from director Donald J.A. Smith, CA, MBA, who assumed the role on an interim basis at the end of November 2012. Mr. Smith remains a director of Coast.

Mr. Bellringer has extensive senior management and board experience. He previously served as chairman of Anthem Properties, and as president and chief executive officer of Canadian Hotel Income Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment, BC Gas (Fortis), Trans Mountain Pipelines and Union Gas Ltd. Mr. Bellringer is currently chairman of BC Hydro and has been a director of a number of public companies. In addition, he is past chairman of the University of Windsor and the Canadian Gas Association.

"We are delighted to welcome Stephen Bellringer to our Board of Directors," said Coast director Donald Smith. "Stephen brings the dual advantage of an extremely strong operations management background and diverse board leadership experience, and we look forward to benefiting from his broad business perspective and expertise."

Coast is a leading independent supplier of major household appliances and accessories to builders and developers of multi-family and single-family housing, and to retail customers. Founded in 1978, Coast currently operates 15 stores across the four western provinces and one store in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, as well as a network of warehouse distribution centres strategically situated to serve these locations.