Wajax announces CEO succession
by CM Staff
Steve Deck, who has been with the Corporation since 2014, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer, will become Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Heavy Equipment.
TORONTO — Wajax Corporation announced that Mark Foote will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer on December 31, 2021. Ignacy (Iggy) Domagalski, the Chief Executive Officer of Tundra Process Solutions Ltd., which was acquired by Wajax in January 2021, will be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Wajax upon Mr. Foote’s retirement.
Mr. Foote has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wajax since March 2012, seeing the Corporation through significant change. Among other things, Mr. Foote oversaw the reorganization of Wajax from independent product divisions to an integrated distribution model, with improvements in employee safety and satisfaction, and implemented a customer-focused growth strategy that combines a broad range of heavy equipment, industrial parts and engineered repair services businesses to meet the needs of the Corporation’s approximately 32,000 commercial, industrial and resource customers. Commenting on his experience, Mr. Foote said, “It has been a real privilege to lead the Wajax team and to contribute to the ongoing success of such a storied Canadian company. I look forward to working with Iggy and the leadership team to ensure a successful transition, and I am convinced Iggy’s leadership will result in an even stronger organization for our team and our customers.”
Mr. Domagalski joined Tundra in 2008 and, after serving as Chief Operating Officer, was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2016. Following Wajax’s acquisition of Tundra, Mr. Domagalski became a member of the Wajax Senior Leadership Team and has participated actively in the development of the Corporation’s heavy equipment and industrial parts and services strategies for 2022 and beyond. Mr. Domagalski is a shareholder of Wajax, currently holding approximately 135,800 common shares.
Commenting on his upcoming role, Mr. Domagalski said, “I am very excited by the opportunity to lead Wajax and to continue our strategy of combining a diverse range of heavy equipment, industrial parts and services, and excellent customer service, to drive sustainable growth. I am particularly looking forward to working with Wajax’s leadership team, frontline staff and manufacturing partners to drive energy into the company’s brand and culture, and to use the company’s financial capacity to capitalize on organic growth and acquisition opportunities.”
Wajax also announced a number of other upcoming changes to senior executive roles that are intended to drive growth through the Corporation’s integrated distribution model. Steve Deck, who has been with the Corporation since 2014, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer, will become Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Heavy Equipment. Justin Warren, who has also been with the Corporation since 2014, most recently serving as Regional Vice President, Ontario, will become Senior Vice President, Industrial Parts and Engineered Repair Services. The forgoing changes will be effective November 1, 2021. Stuart Auld, who has been with the Corporation since 2014 and is Wajax’s Chief Financial Officer, will continue in his current role.
