Planned transition marks a new era for Genoa at a prosperous time for the business
Mount Pearl, NL, August 26, 2026 – Genoa Design International today 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.
About Genoa Design International
For more than 30 years, Genoa Design International, the Digital Ship Experts®, has been a trusted partner for detail design and 3D modelling for shipbuilding across North America, with extensive experience in Navy and Coast Guard programs, including notable icebreaking vessels such as Canada’s new Polar Icebreaker and the United States’ Polar Security Cutter.
With more than 130 projects completed to date, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services to support all stages of a vessel’s lifecycle from early design to decommissioning. Genoa has positioned itself well to meet the rising demand in ice-class vessels, and its advanced Digital Ship® technologies provide an edge in meeting demanding production schedules.
About Membertou First Nation
Membertou, a Mi’kmaq community located on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, is a growing and thriving community focused on economic development. The business arm of Membertou, the Membertou Development Corporation, is home to 14 corporate businesses. Membertou’s ownership in the Canadian marine industry includes Clearwater Seafoods and Newdock – St. John’s Dockyard. Membertou’s model creates economic success to benefit its members.
About Horizon Naval Engineering
Horizon Naval Engineering is a proudly St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador-based company that is part of a group operating on all three of Canada’s coastlines, with a leadership team that draws on vast experience in global maritime operations. With an unwavering commitment to safety and continuous improvement, Horizon provides industry-leading management, operations, and performance in harsh environments. We continue to focus on our important role in developing strong maritime partnerships and creating prosperous opportunities with First Nations and Indigenous communities, recognizing that diverse organizations are more competitive companies.
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Media contacts:
Jessica Roche
Genoa Design International
jroche@genoadesign.com
Emily Petley-Jones
Horizon Naval Engineering
marketing@horizonatlanticcapital.com
Kelsea MacNeil
Membertou First Nation
kelseamacneil@membertou.ca