After more than a decade in the CEO role, Andrew Waitman is transitioning to the position of executive chairman with Assent, making way for Michael Southworth to take over as CEO, the company announced Wednesday.
Assent, which specializes in supply chain sustainability management, said in a news release that the leadership transition “positions Assent to accelerate global expansion, pursue strategic acquisitions, and deepen its product innovation — building on its supply chain expertise, unique sustainability data, and advanced AI capabilities.”
Southworth, the company said, was chosen to “spearhead Assent’s ambitious growth toward a quarter-billion-dollar revenue target.” According to the release, Southworth most recently served as CEO of Babel Street, an AI-enabled analytics platform, and has held executive roles at technology firms such as Transflo, Verint-Systems, Contact Solutions, Corning Inc. and MobileAccess Networks.
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“Assent sits at the intersection of global supply chain transformation and corporate sustainability — and the opportunity ahead is massive,” said Southworth in the release. “I’m energized to lead a company with such a strong foundation, deep expertise, and bold ambition. Together, we’ll extend Assent’s global impact, scale with purpose, and set a new industry standard for supply chain intelligence, sustainability and resiliency.”
Waitman, who has been Assent’s CEO since the company’s early growth stage, transitions into the role of executive chairman.
“Assent’s strength lies in its people, its culture, and its relentless focus on customers and growth,” said Waitman in the release. “(Southworth) brings the strategic clarity and operational excellence to take Assent to new heights.”
In a post on LinkedIn Wednesday, Waitman said that, “This isn’t goodbye — far from it. It’s a continuation of my deep commitment to Assent’s mission to make supply chains deeply and durably sustainable. In this new role on the Board of Directors, I will focus on long-term strategy, AI adoption and supporting this incredible leadership team.
“From a passionate start with Conflict Minerals and an invitation from Jonathan Hughes, Matt Whitteker, Rob Imbeault to become a co-founder and CEO in 2014, to a global enterprise serving the world’s most complex manufacturers, Assent’s growth has been a testament to the talent, grit, and vision of our team,” he added.
Waitman was named the 2024 CEO of the Year by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade. He was also among the inductees named to the Order of Ottawa last year.
