As governments ramp up defense spending and brace for escalating cyber risk, Thales Canada is offering a playbook for how CEOs can turn national priorities into long-term growth. By matching global scale with a deeply local footprint—1,400 employees across five provinces, more than 35 R&D partnerships, and 500 Canadian suppliers—the company is positioning itself as a core enabler of Canada’s emerging security and technology agenda.
From AI-enabled naval maintenance and NATO-focused capabilities to an ambitious talent strategy that includes internal academies and a new National Digital Excellence Centre in Fredericton, Thales is betting that the winners in this environment will be the companies that innovate fast, partner deeply and invest heavily in skills. In the following interview, CEO Ian Krepps shares insight into leading through geopolitical uncertainty, closing critical talent gaps and aligning corporate strategy with shifting public-sector demand.
Tell us about Thales and its expanding footprint.
From a global perspective, Thales is a technology leader specializing in solutions for defense, aerospace and the cyber and digital markets. With a rich heritage of innovation and expertise, we operate in 68 countries and employ approximately 80,000 people worldwide. Our expanding international footprint enables us to respond effectively to regional market demands by thinking globally and operating locally.
In Canada, we have a strong and growing footprint with more than 1,400 employees, including 640 highly skilled engineers. We collaborate with roughly 500 Canadian partners, maintain more than 100 Royal Canadian Navy vessels and support numerous government departments and agencies with secure data solutions.
With more than 35 R&D partnerships and facilities in cities across the country, reaching across five provinces, Thales is deeply embedded in Canada’s innovation and defense ecosystem.
What are some of the factors behind the company’s growth?
Thales’ growth in Canada is anchored in three core areas: innovation, partnerships and customer service.
Innovation is at the heart of our strategy, driven by sustained investment in research and development. This approach enables us to stay ahead of technological trends and maintain a diverse portfolio across markets. A prime example is the use of AI to optimize maintenance schedules for Royal Canadian Navy vessels under the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships and Joint Ships In-Serve contract. We’re supporting improved operational readiness by minimizing delays.
We also recently launched the National Digital Excellence Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. This initiative, supported by government and academic partners, fosters the development of advanced cyber and digital technologies to strengthen Canada’s cyber resilience.
Partnerships are equally important. Thales works closely with Canadian small and medium-sized businesses through our SYNERGY program to help bring advanced military technologies to market. We also prioritize economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
In collaboration with the Malahat Nation, Thales opened its West Coast Operations Center, which oversees the refit and maintenance of Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships and Joint Support Ships. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainable resource management, including the implementation of an innovative water capture and reuse system.
Finally, customer service and support have been foundational to Thales’ success. For more than 50 years, the company has provided in-service support to Canada’s Department of National Defense, covering major naval platforms such as Victoria-class submarines and Halifax-class frigates.
Thales ensures maintenance is timely and effective, enabling the Canadian Armed Forces to meet global commitments. Beyond naval support, Thales supplies NATO forces with advanced soldier and vehicle optronics and is expanding its Québec manufacturing facility to meet growing demand.
Together, these pillars position Thales as a trusted partner in Canada’s defense and technology landscape.
You have some ambitious hiring plans – how is that going?
Thales Canada’s ambitious hiring plans are well underway and showing strong momentum. For example, we are actively hiring for roles across multiple provinces including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. Roles range from junior systems engineers and DevOps specialists to cybersecurity managers, data architects, and project planners.
Additionally, the company is expanding its Ottawa operations by consolidating three existing offices into a new 112,000-square-foot headquarters in Kanata, boosting our local footprint by 30 percent. This move supports our goal to hire more defense, digital identity and cybersecurity roles in the area.
What is the philosophy behind your ‘Learning Company’ program?
The philosophy behind our Learning Company program is grounded in the belief that talent development is essential to long-term success, and we need to consider both the learning and the sharing of knowledge, skills and behaviors.
This begins with a commitment to career-long development. From onboarding onward, Thales fosters a culture of continuous learning, offering targeted reskilling and upskilling opportunities that empower employees to adapt to technological change and meet evolving business needs with confidence.
Strategic talent management is also central to the program. Thales aims to unlock the full potential of every team member through personalized growth pathways, regular performance evaluations and career development conversations that align individual aspirations with organizational goals.
To support this, Thales has established more than 35 internal academies that deliver structured, high-impact training across disciplines such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital identity and engineering. These academies help cultivate deep technical expertise, drive innovation, and enable internal mobility across the organization.
At the foundation of the Learning Company model is an inclusive and supportive culture. Thales is committed to creating a workplace that is safe, equitable and respectful. Learning is encouraged at every level, and employees are supported in their growth. With a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination, Thales actively promotes leadership development, well-being and a culture of belonging.
What’s next for Thales?
Over the next five years, Thales is poised for significant growth and impact in Canada, driven by a convergence of national priorities and our own strategic momentum. Canada’s renewed focus on strengthening its technology and defense sectors signals a major opportunity for us. The reawakening of Canada’s commitment to defense creates a fertile environment for expansion, innovation and deeper collaboration across the country.
Thales is well-positioned to support these ambitions. With a solid foundation built over years of growth, the company is focused on maximizing delivery on existing contracts while scaling up capabilities to support Canada’s ReArm Europe initiative and NATO spending goals. It’s an exciting time for Thales in Canada – one marked by opportunity and a clear vision to help shape the country’s strategic future.
