Invest Ontario is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed Khawar Nasim as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2025.
Khawar’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Invest Ontario enters the next phase of its evolution in a rapidly evolving business environment. This evolution will see the Agency focused on enhancing its capabilities to support investors and unlocking new opportunities that will create meaningful jobs and drive long-term prosperity in Ontario.
“Invest Ontario has helped secure billions of dollars of investments across the province and is a critical part of our government’s plan to create better jobs and bigger paycheques for Ontario workers. Given his pivotal role in supporting so many of these investments, we’re thrilled to welcome Khawar to his new role as CEO and look forward to seeing his dedication and leadership guide the agency at this critical time.” — Hon. Vic Fedel, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Formerly serving as Invest Ontario’s Vice President of Business Development, Khawar will build on his track record in securing significant investments for the province. With over 25 years of international experience in both the public and private sectors, he has a deep understanding of investor needs and expertise in building strong relationships with industry leaders and partners around the world.
Khawar served as Canada’s Acting Consul General in New York prior to joining the Agency. His overseas career also included senior postings in Rome, Barcelona, The Hague, and Minneapolis.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to be announcing Khawar’s appointment. Khawar is a proven leader who will accelerate our vision for expanded services and success in delivering investments for the province. As his track record has shown, Khawar is an advocate for strategic business plays for the province and his appointment will maintain the trust we have built with investors at a time when continuity and care are more important than ever.” — Andrew MacLeod, Board Chair, Invest Ontario
Jennifer Block, a seasoned executive from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade has served as Interim CEO while the Agency conducted its search. She will be staying on in the interim to lead the implementation of the Agency’s enhanced capabilities and manage internal functions to elevate operations.
“I want to thank Jennifer for her leadership in this interim period and am pleased she will be staying with us as we bring our newest Business Plan into operation,” added MacLeod.
Over the past three years, Invest Ontario has built a strong foundation, expanded its offering to investors, and achieved significant success in securing transformative projects in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and technology sectors.
Moving forward, Invest Ontario is focused on optimizing its suite of services to deliver greater impact for investors. It will continue to focus on key sectors that build on Ontario’s strengths, while extending its expertise to different subsectors in alignment with the province’s emerging economic priorities.
In recognition of the Agency’s instrumental role, the Ontario government has provided an additional $100 million to the Invest Ontario Fund for a total of $700 million to attract more leading companies to the province and further support domestic businesses to create more good-paying jobs.
“Investment attraction and retention have never been more critical to the province’s success and I’m honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time. This is a team effort—it takes government, industry and communities working together to create the conditions for business success. I’m proud of the collaborative partnerships we’ve created and look forward to the opportunity to build upon them with our partners. We’re all in this together.” — Khawar Nasim, CEO of Invest Ontario
As a proud member of the ecosystem that supports business growth and economic development in the province, Invest Ontario will continue to strengthen partnerships across all levels of government and industry to ensure investors have the resources and support needed to thrive.
Invest Ontario is grateful to the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, municipalities, and other key partners for their support in the Agency’s work and their dedication to fostering this ecosystem together.
For more information about Invest Ontario, please visit www.investontario.ca.
About Invest Ontario
Invest Ontario is the dedicated agency for investment attraction in the province. We serve as global businesses’ partner and one-window access to Ontario, providing expertise and tailored services throughout their investment journey. With a focus on the advanced manufacturing, life sciences and technology sectors, we are committed to securing strategic investments that create jobs, generate returns to the province and drive Ontario’s long-term economic growth and global competitiveness.
Source: Invest Ontario
