Richard Deacon joined the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba as President and CEO on February 1, replacing Winston Maharaj, who stepped down on October 30 after almost nine years in the role.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Richard to the WCB of Manitoba," said Michael Werier, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the WCB.
"We are thrilled to have Richard join our team and lead the organization into the future. He is a strong leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing long-term strategy to drive transformation. I am confident that he will successfully support and execute our long-term vision and be a tremendous asset to the WCB."
Richard comes to the WCB from Manulife Financial, where he has held a number of senior leadership roles over the past 12 years.
Most recently, he was Vice President, Strategy & Transformation, Group Benefits. He previously held progressively senior positions in the company in the areas of research and development, strategy and communications and corporate development. Richard has an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Science from York University.
"I am excited to join the WCB and be part of such a well-established and respected organization," Richard said. "I look forward to working with the WCB board and its management team to continue to promote and support a safety culture and ensure excellence in service for workers and employers across Manitoba."