CWB Group - Chief Executive Officer

Organization:  CWB Group (formerly Canadian Welding Bureau)
Position Title:  Chief Executive Officer
Reports to: Board of Directors 

Location:         GTA, Ontario, Canada

THE COMPANY
CWB Group (formerly Canadian Welding Bureau) is a nationally and internationally recognized organization dedicated to advancing the safety, quality, and sustainability of welding and materials joining across Canada and the U.S. CWB Group operates at the intersection of public safety, industry performance, workforce development, and technical excellence, serving as both a trusted authority and a strategic partner to industry, government, educators, and employers. The company operates with a strong public-interest mandate, balancing commercial discipline with mission-driven impact.

Established to support public confidence in welded structures and critical infrastructure, CWB Group has evolved into a multi-faceted organization providing certification, inspection, training, education, research, and advocacy services across a wide range of sectors, including construction, manufacturing, energy, transportation, and advanced fabrication.

Beyond its core assurance role, CWB Group is a respected thought leader and convenor within the welding and materials joining ecosystem. Through industry research, labour-market intelligence, and regular publications, CWB Group provides data-driven insights that inform workforce planning, technology adoption, and policy discussions. These insights help employers, educators, and governments respond effectively to demographic change, skilled-labour shortages, and rapid technological advancement in the trades.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead a complex, mission-driven organization operating at the intersection of public interest, industry standards, certification, technology services, and global markets. The CEO will lead CWB Group in driving sustainable, scalable growth initiatives supporting a 10-year strategic vision. The CEO will strengthen leadership capability, modernize talent systems, and build a future-ready workforce aligned with CWB Group’s long-term vision and growth ambitions. The CEO will actively steward and evolve CWB Group’s unique and increasingly strategic relationship with EWI, positioning this partnership as a critical near-and-medium term lever for innovation, applied research, and North American market relevance.

The role calls for a leader who can steward CWB Group’s trusted brand and regulatory credibility, deepen relationships across public and private sectors, drive innovation and operational excellence, and position the organization for long-term relevance and impact. Success will require balancing strategic vision with disciplined execution to ensure CWB Group continues to deliver meaningful value to industry while fulfilling its public safety and workforce-development mandate. The CEO will model values-based leadership and build a high-performing culture that balances commercial discipline with purpose and public trust. The CEO will provide enterprise-wide leadership, working in close partnership with the Board to set and execute strategy, drive sustainable growth and diversification, and steward the organization’s culture, reputation, and long-term resilience supported by a future-ready client-focused, service-oriented operating model. 

THE CANDIDATE
Ideal Background and Experience

• Senior executive leadership experience (C-Suite) in a regulated, standards-based infrastructure, manufacturing, engineering, or industrial services environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizations with a public-interest mandate, not-for-profit, quasi-regulatory, or industry-supported model, balancing commercial discipline with independence and credibility.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex environments that blend not-for-profit and for-profit elements, and the ability to balance commercial outcomes with social purpose, strategic clarity, execution discipline, and governance capability. 
• Demonstrated experience forming and stewarding strategic partnerships, alliances, and mergers and acquisitions that advance a purpose driven, national organization—aligning commercial growth, industry collaboration, and ecosystem influence.
• Strong understanding of regulatory systems, certification regimes, quality assurance, risk management, and compliance-based operations.
• Proven track record engaging effectively with Boards, governments, regulators, industry leaders, labour organizations, and educational institutions.
• Experience overseeing multi-line or enterprise organizations, including credentialing, education or workforce development, technical services, and innovation or advisory functions.
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing, infrastructure development, clean energy, construction, or industrial technologies, including automation or digital transformation.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation—modernizing systems, strengthening governance, and building leadership capacity while sustaining stakeholder trust.
• University degree in engineering, business administration, public administration, or a related field; a graduate degree or professional designation is an asset.

The CEO role is a current existing vacancy. LHH Knightsbridge does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants for a position.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please forward a confidential expression of interest (cover letter and current resume) to: Madiha Rashid, Senior Consultant at madiha.rashid@lhhknightsbridge.com