Navigator Ltd., a consultancy that specializes in crisis management and executive communications, has named a new chief executive officer as it enters its next phase of succession planning, but founder Jaime Watt will remain chair of its board of directors.
Laas Turnbull is being elevated to CEO from his current role as chief commercial officer. He joined Navigator in 2024 after a multi-decade career in media, including at ZoomerMedia, TorStar and Report on Business Magazine.
Mr. Watt, who founded Navigator 25 years ago and is currently executive chair, will chair a new board of directors.
Navigator is well-known on Bay Street for its connections to corporate boardrooms, and the firm is regularly hired to develop communications plans when crises arise. This expertise has made it popular with executives, but it has also earned the firm a controversial reputation.
Mr. Watt’s potential retirement has been a topic of discussion for many years because he has faced health issues, including a kidney transplant. But he is also often seen as the face of the firm and has been the point-person for many corporate contacts, which complicates succession planning.
In a statement, Mr. Watt said he is “not going anywhere. As chair and founder, I will chair a new board of directors and remain actively involved in setting the strategy of the business, building our brand, and most important of all – supporting our clients.”
Asked to clarify his involvement and the firm’s ownership after the restructuring, Mr. Watt told The Globe and Mail in an e-mail that Navigator’s equity ownership will not change, but he “will step back from day to day management activities and continue to focus on delivering service to key clients, top talent acquisition, culture and innovation.”