Genoa Announces Laurie Balan as Chief Executive Officer as Gina Pecore Retires from CEO Role
Planned transition marks a new era for Genoa at a prosperous time for the business
Genoa Design International announced that Laurie Balan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer as Gina Pecore retires from the role following a planned leadership transition.
Laurie Balan, P.Eng., PMP, ICD.D, brings more than two decades of engineering, operations, and executive leadership experience in the marine and shipbuilding sectors. Since joining Genoa in 2020, she has served as Chief Program Officer, Executive Vice President, Design and Consulting, and most recently Chief Operating Officer, where she has been accountable for operations and business performance, customer delivery, market and business development, communications, human resources, and talent development.
A Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional, Laurie has also held senior leadership roles on major shipbuilding programs, leading engineering, operations and multidisciplinary technical teams supporting major commercial, government and naval projects. As a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors Director designation, she represents the highest standard of boardroom leadership, governance, and oversight in Canada.
The announcement marks a new era for Genoa at a prosperous time for the business, with significant opportunities for continued growth across the North American marine and shipbuilding sectors. The transition reflects thoughtful succession planning, confidence in Genoa’s leadership bench and a continued focus on stability, customer delivery, and long-term success.
Gina Pecore’s leadership has helped shape Genoa’s reputation as a trusted partner in shipbuilding design and digital marine services. As she retires from the CEO role, she will remain connected to the business as a member of the Board of Directors.
“Genoa has always been built on strong people, strong values and a long-term view,” said Gina Pecore. “I am proud of what we have built together and confident in the team that will guide Genoa forward and I firmly believe the best is yet to come. Laurie is a strong, experienced and capable leader who understands our business, our customers and our people, and I look forward to supporting her and the team through this transition.”
“I am honoured to step into the CEO role and build on the foundation and culture Gina and the Genoa team have created,” said Laurie Balan. “This is an exciting time for Genoa. We have talented people, strong customer relationships and significant opportunities ahead. My focus will be on continuity, delivering for our customers and leading the business with confidence into its next chapter under our ownership of Membertou First Nation and Horizon Naval Engineering.”
“Genoa is entering this next phase from a position of strength, and Laurie is the right leader to carry that momentum forward. She brings a deep understanding of the business, its people, and its customers, and we have tremendous confidence in her leadership. Gina and the Genoa leadership team have built an exceptional company and culture — we are proud to support Laurie and the Genoa team as they continue to grow and support our valued customers.”
— Sean Leet, President, Horizon Naval Engineering
“Genoa Design has built an exceptional reputation over the past 30 years, and we are proud to be part of its next chapter. The appointment of new CEO, Laurie Balan, represents an important step forward as Genoa continues to grow, innovate and pursue new opportunities across Canada’s marine and shipbuilding sectors. We thank outgoing CEO, Gina Pecore for the visionary she’s been for Genoa. We have tremendous confidence in the company’s people, its leadership and its future.”
— Chief Terry Paul, Membertou First Nation
Genoa will continue to prioritize its employees, customers, and partners throughout the transition, with a clear focus on maintaining the quality, reliability and innovation that have defined the company’s work.
