Chief Executive Officer, 78985

Chief Executive Officer

Reports to: This position currently reports to the President & CEO of Jenoptik AG

Location: Barrie, Ontario

About Prodomax Automation

For over 55 years, Prodomax has been a leader in the design, engineering, and turnkey integration of custom automation solutions. As a key part of the Jenoptik Group, they are renowned for their expertise in welding and assembly systems for structural automotive components. They pride themselves on core values of People, Solutions, Integrity.

Prodomax is entering a pivotal stage of growth and strategic diversification. To build on their strong foundation, they are seeking an experienced CEO to lead their expansion into new industries and markets.

The Opportunity follows the retirement of their long-standing CEO after 25 years of successful leadership. They are seeking a visionary successor to lead its next era of expansion. The incoming CEO will inherit a high-performing operation with a mandate to evolve the business from its traditional automotive integration roots into a diversified leader in large-scale automation solutions.

The primary objective for the new CEO is the planning and execution of a Revenue Growth and Market Diversification Plan. This strategy will focus on identifying and capturing high-potential opportunities in diversified markets, specifically leveraging the company’s core technical competencies to serve new sectors.

Located in Barrie Ontario, Prodomax is a high-performing, mid-market leader generating average annual revenues in the $75M–$100M range. Recognizing the cyclical nature of the automotive industry and the current global trade landscape (including impacts from tariffs and market shifts), the mandate for the new CEO is to leverage their infrastructure to build a more diversified and ‘weather-proof’ business model.

Core Responsibilities

• Multi-Disciplinary Leadership: Proven track record of successfully leading and integrating Business Development, Sales, Operations, and Project Management teams to achieve cohesive business goals.
• Diversified Growth Strategy: Lead the "Revenue Growth and Market Diversification Plan" to successfully penetrate and scale within non-automotive sectors.
• Strategic Leadership: Manage day-to-day operations and provide inspired leadership to the management team, establishing a strong, transparent partnership with the parent company Board and local management team.
• Cultural Stewardship: Model and build upon a high-performance culture that balances the organization's legacy with a new, proactive growth mindset.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee all business activities to ensure alignment with strategic objectives, focusing on the delivery of complex, turnkey manufacturing systems.
• Financial Oversight: In coordination with Chief Financial Officer, review financial and non-financial reports to optimize performance; make high-quality investment decisions to support the diversification mandate and attain target KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) aligned with ownership.
• Stakeholder Relations: Together with Chief Financial Officer act as the executive liaisons with ownership and key partners, maintaining trust and clear communication at all times. Maintaining strong internal communication and building relationships with the team to maintain relatable, transparent, and motivational leadership; as well as aligning team goals to corporate goals.

Candidate Qualifications

• Executive Leadership: 10+ years of Executive experience within a manufacturing operations environment successfully leading and integrating Business Development, Sales, Operations, and Project Management.
• Specific Sector Expertise: Extensive experience in companies providing complex industrial automation or expertise within diversified heavy industrial sectors, including Automotive, and large-scale custom equipment manufacturing.
• Cyclical Markets: Proven experience navigating cyclical industrial markets and managing business stability through trade fluctuations, tariffs, and sector-specific downturns.
• Strategic Growth Track Record: Proven success in developing and implementing strategies for market penetration / development and revenue diversification within a manufacturing context.
• Technical & Operational Depth: Comprehensive knowledge of large-scale custom manufacturing operations including design, fabrication, assembly, industrial controls, robotics, account and project management as well as corporate governance, finance and IT.
• Proactive Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and public speaking skills. Must be a "proactive communicator" who listens actively and communicates early and often with all levels of the organization.
• Problem-Solving Orientation: An analytical mindset capable of navigating the challenges of entering new markets while maintaining current operational stability.
• Global Mobility: Willingness and ability to engage in occasional international travel to evaluate new market opportunities and meet with global stakeholders.

Education & Professional Requirements

• Professional Engineering Designation: A Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) license is strongly preferred. The candidate must possess the technical depth to oversee complex industrial engineering projects and structural manufacturing processes.
• Academic Background: A University Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or Structural) is required.
• Advanced Business Education: An MBA or equivalent advanced business degree is considered a significant asset, bridging the gap between technical expertise and $100M-scale financial management.