Leading with purpose.
Driven by people.
At CBN, our leadership team plays a pivotal role in shaping the vision that guides our work around the world. From our roots in currency to the trusted security solutions that now support everyday life: border crossings, identity verification, consumer protection, and more. Our leaders continue to drive the innovation and integrity that set CBN apart. But what truly defines our leadership isn’t just expertise; it’s a belief that long‑lasting relationships are the foundation of meaningful impact. We put people first—our customers, our partners, and each other—and foster a culture where equality, diversity, and inclusivity are not aspirations but daily practices. Together, our leadership team ensures CBN remains a place where great ideas thrive, people are empowered, and our customers are supported for the long run.
Our Leadership Team
Marilou Arends, Chief Executive Officer
Marilou Arends is the Chief Executive Officer of CBN, where she leads the company’s global portfolio of secure technology, currency, and identity solutions. A collaborative and principles‑driven leader, she champions clarity, accountability, and a people‑first culture across CBN’s diverse business lines. Marilou plays a central role in corporate strategy, long‑term planning, capital investments, and key enterprise decisions, and serves as a member of the CBN Board of Directors.
Marilou is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, an experience that strengthened her strategic perspective, leadership philosophy, and commitment to organizational excellence. She is continuously engaging customers and partners, working to enhance CBN’s products, services, and integrated solutions. Passionate about developing talent and enabling high performance, Marilou believes strongly in people’s ability to learn, grow, and deliver meaningful impact for CBN’s global customers.
Doug Arends, Chairman
Doug Arends is Chairman of CBN and a transformative force behind the organization’s growth over nearly five decades. Since assuming leadership in 1976, he has guided CBN from its roots in security printing to a diversified global enterprise serving governments and institutions worldwide. Under his direction, the company expanded into advanced systems integration and built a portfolio spanning currency, identity, border management, excise, and lottery solutions.
His entrepreneurial leadership was instrumental in CBN’s breakthrough in the early 1990s contract with Ukraine, which established the company as a respected international bank note supplier. Doug is widely recognized for fostering a culture centred on innovation, diversification, and long‑term partnerships, positioning CBN as a trusted provider of secure products and technology-enabled solutions supporting critical national infrastructure.
Craig Bascombe, Executive Vice-Chairman
Craig Bascombe is the Executive Vice‑Chairman of CBN, where he plays a central role in shaping corporate strategy, guiding major investment decisions, and supporting the long‑term direction of the enterprise. Since joining CBN in 1994, he has held several senior leadership positions, including CEO, Chief Financial Officer, and President of the Lottery division, contributing to the company’s growth across multiple business lines.
Craig brings a distinctive blend of entrepreneurial vision, technical insight, and global business experience. His longstanding involvement in innovation includes founding Wann Connection Devices, a company specializing in point‑of‑sale and data communication technologies for major financial institutions.
A Chartered Accountant with a strong foundation in finance, technology, and operations, Craig is recognized for his disciplined approach, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to strengthening CBN’s global reputation and long‑term success.
Gord McKechnie, Executive President
Gord McKechnie, Executive President and Secretary of CBN, is an experienced legal and corporate governance leader who has shaped the company’s compliance and security posture for more than two decades. An Ontario‑trained lawyer, he began his career practicing criminal, corporate, and commercial law before joining CBN in 2001 as General Counsel. Gord built the company’s comprehensive legal and compliance framework and today holds senior executive responsibility for legal affairs, compliance oversight, security governance, and board support.
Since 2022, he has also served on CBN’s Board of Directors and contributes to strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions. Fluent in English and French, Gord is known for his principled leadership, sound judgment, and commitment to ensuring that CBN’s operations align with the highest standards of integrity and corporate responsibility.
Mark Houlton, Chief Commercial Officer
Mark Houlton, Chief Commercial Officer at CBN, leads the Border, Civil Identification, Driver and Vehicle, Excise Control, and Currency (BCDEC) Solutions businesses. He is responsible for driving commercial strategy, strengthening customer relationships, and guiding investments that advance CBN’s product innovation and business growth. As a member of the Executive team, Mark plays a central role in corporate decision‑making and sits on the BCDEC Executive Committee.
A strong advocate for customers’ missions, working closely with government partners to implement secure, value‑driven infrastructure solutions that support national priorities and public trust. Mark’s leadership style emphasizes accountability, a people‑first culture, and long‑term customer success. He is committed to empowering teams, developing talent, and fostering a high‑performance environment that contributes to CBN’s global reputation for reliability and innovation.
Alex Schmidt, Chief Transformation Officer
Alex Schmidt is the Chief Transformation Officer at CBN, where he leads enterprise‑wide initiatives that strengthen CBN’s innovation capabilities, organizational design, and long‑term strategic alignment. He works closely with internal teams and customers to identify challenges, streamline business processes, and develop technology‑enabled solutions that support mission‑critical operations.
Alex plays a central role in advancing digital transformation, modernizing ways of working, and fostering a people-centred approach to leadership and organizational development. Known for his clarity, creativity, and systems‑thinking mindset, he helps bridge strategy, technology, and execution across the company. Alex also shares his expertise through teaching and speaking engagements, contributing to the growth of leaders and teams across the organization. His collaborative and forward‑looking approach supports CBN’s continued evolution and long‑term success.
Michael Ellis, Chief Information Officer
Michael Ellis is the Chief Information Officer at CBN, where he leads the company’s enterprise‑wide technology strategy, cybersecurity posture, and digital transformation agenda. Since joining CBN in 2011, he has brought more than a decade of leadership to the organization, driving advancements in secure identity systems, Zero Trust architecture, modern cloud operations, and resilient digital platforms.
As a member of the Executive team, Michael plays a central role in shaping CBN’s IT governance model, long‑term innovation roadmap, and the modernization of systems that support both internal operations and customer‑facing solutions. A Certified Enterprise Architect, he is known for his collaborative, clarity‑driven leadership style and his commitment to empowering technical teams through accountability and strong cross‑functional alignment.
Michael’s work has strengthened CBN’s ability to deliver secure, scalable, and future‑ready technology solutions, ensuring the organization remains adaptive, competitive, and trusted in an increasingly digital world.
Suzanne Turcotte, Chief Administrative Officer
Suzanne Turcotte is the Chief Administrative Officer at Canadian Bank Note Company, bringing over 18 years of experience as a senior administrative and legal executive. She is recognized for her strategic vision and ability to navigate complex corporate, government, regulatory, and technological environments while providing forward‑thinking counsel to executive teams and boards. With a B.A. in International Political Economies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law, she brings together her legal experience with practical operational and technology expertise.
Suzanne’s leadership spans AI implementation, technology optimization, intellectual property strategy, and regulatory compliance. She is a catalyst for modernizing, securing, and scaling operational and information systems, and is skilled in guiding strategic partnerships, global transactions, and enterprise risk management. Known for building high‑performing, cross‑functional teams, she consistently delivers practical, results‑driven solutions that strengthen CBN’s performance in highly regulated, mission‑critical environments.
