Chief Operating Officer (COO) | Zenabis
Search Overview
Organization:
Zenabis
Sector:
Cannabis Manufacturing and Consumer Products
Location:
Canada
Mandate Type:
Executive Leadership Search
Leadership Function:
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Search Scope:
National Executive Search
Engagement Focus:
Operational Leadership, Manufacturing Scalability, and Organizational Growth
Confidentiality:
Confidential Executive Search Engagement
The Business Landscape
Zenabis engaged KIRAH to support the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer during a significant phase of organizational expansion and operational evolution within the Canadian cannabis sector.
As the industry continued experiencing accelerated growth, organizations faced increasing pressure to strengthen operational infrastructure, scale production capabilities, maintain regulatory compliance, and build sustainable operational leadership across highly complex environments.
Zenabis required an operational executive capable of bringing structure, leadership maturity, and execution discipline across multiple operational functions while supporting the organization’s broader growth objectives.
The mandate carried substantial strategic importance as the organization continued expanding its operational footprint within a rapidly evolving and highly regulated industry landscape.
The Leadership Requirement
The role required far more than traditional operational oversight.
Zenabis needed a senior executive capable of balancing large scale operational leadership, manufacturing oversight, production scalability, supply chain coordination, workforce leadership, compliance awareness, and organizational execution.
The ideal candidate required strong experience operating within fast paced production environments while demonstrating the ability to lead cross functional operational teams during periods of rapid growth and transformation.
Equally important was the need for an executive capable of navigating complexity, strengthening operational consistency, and contributing strategically at the leadership table during a pivotal stage of the company’s evolution.
The Search Mandate
KIRAH was retained to conduct a confidential national executive search for the Chief Operating Officer role.
The assignment focused on identifying operational leaders with experience across manufacturing, regulated production environments, operational scale up, and multi site leadership structures.
Rather than approaching the search as a traditional operations hire, the engagement centered around identifying a transformational operational leader capable of supporting both immediate operational priorities and long term organizational scalability.
The search process involved extensive market outreach, executive evaluation, and close partnership with organizational leadership throughout the engagement.
The Search Strategy
KIRAH conducted targeted national outreach across cannabis, food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, industrial production, and large scale operational sectors throughout Canada.
The process focused on identifying executives with proven experience leading operational growth, manufacturing oversight, production scalability, and complex operational infrastructures.
Candidates were evaluated beyond operational management capability alone.
The assessment process focused heavily on leadership maturity, organizational scalability experience, operational execution capability, workforce leadership, change management, and long term strategic alignment.
Particular emphasis was placed on identifying a leader capable of operating effectively within a high growth and rapidly evolving business environment.
The search also prioritized candidates with experience operating within compliance driven and operationally intensive industries.
Candidates were assessed on adaptability, operational problem solving capability, communication style, leadership presence, and their ability to support operational stability during periods of accelerated growth.
The Appointment
The search resulted in the successful appointment of John Krodonsky as Chief Operating Officer for Zenabis.
John brought strong operational leadership capability, manufacturing oversight experience, and executive management strength aligned with the organization’s evolving operational and production objectives.
His ability to lead complex operational environments while supporting organizational scalability positioned him effectively within the executive leadership team during an important stage of company growth and expansion.
The appointment represented a critical addition to Zenabis’ executive infrastructure as the organization continued scaling within a rapidly evolving industry landscape.
The Outcome
Strengthened Executive Operational Leadership
Supported the appointment of a senior executive leader capable of contributing strategically across operational, manufacturing, and organizational growth initiatives.
Enhanced Organizational Scalability
Helped strengthen operational leadership infrastructure during a critical period of expansion and operational evolution.
Specialized Executive Search Execution
Delivered a targeted executive search process focused on operational leadership within highly regulated and production intensive sectors.
Long Term Growth Alignment
Identified leadership capability aligned with the organization’s operational maturity and long term scalability objectives.
Key Search Metrics
National Executive Search
Targeted outreach conducted across manufacturing, production, regulated operations, and operational leadership sectors throughout Canada.
Executive Leadership Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment focused on operational leadership capability, organizational scalability, executive maturity, and cross functional leadership strength.
Regulated Industry Search Focus
Search execution tailored to operationally intensive and compliance driven production environments.
Successful Executive Appointment
Completed the successful placement of John Kondonsky as Chief Operating Officer supporting Zenabis’ operational growth and leadership objectives.