Canadian Prime Minister announces new leaders of Invest in Canada to drive ambitions
In response to a rapidly changing global trade landscape and to help reach a targeted $1-trillion of total investment in Canada over the next five years, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has made two new appointments at Canada's investment promotion agency, Invest in Canada.
Chairperson Dominic Barton and CEO Gurinder Grewal will be tasked to build a stronger, more resilient and more independent Canadian economy that is not reliant on any single trading partner.
Barton has been appointed for a three-year term and Grewal a five-year term.
Invest in Canada plays a key role in guiding investors from initial interest to shovels in the ground. In its new, more ambitious form driven by Carney, Invest in Canada will take on a more prominent role – working closely with the largest foreign investors to build a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy.
Barton brings to his new position extensive experience in global business, investment and public service sectors. He currently also chairs Rio Tinto and LeapFrog Investments. He preciously chaired Canada's Advisory Council on Economic Growth and worked as Canada's Ambassador to China.
In turn, Grewal founded and manages MEM Growth Partners, which follows more than a decade of work at Advent International where he was a partner and co-head of the industrials, infrastructure and energy segment.
Together, the new appointments will lead Invest in Canada to catalyse billions of dollars of new investment in Canadian energy, critical minerals, AI and infrastructure.
Working with provincial, territorial, Indigenous, and municipal partners – and in close coordination with the Major Projects Office – Invest in Canada will bring the world's largest investors to Canadian projects and guide them from initial interest to actual shovels in the ground.
Barton succeeds Karl Tabbakh as chairperson of Invest in Canada, who led the organisation through a period of significant global disruption. Notably, Tabbakh contributed to Canada being the G7 country with the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows per capita and the second-highest FDI outflows per capita in 2025.
Tabbakh has agreed to remain on the Invest in Canada board of directors beyond the expiry of his term to ensure continuity, support the leadership transition, and help oversee the implementation of the next phase of the organisation's journey.
Carney concludes that Canada has what the world wants: it is an energy superpower with the most educated workforce in the world and rock-solid fiscal strength.
"As we look to capitalise on these strengths with new investors, Barton and Grewal have the experience and ambition Canada needs. Under their leadership, Invest in Canada will catalyse billions in new investments into Canada to build a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy for all."
