Headversity Taps Former Benevity CEO to Lead ‘Important Transition’ for Calgary Firm

A mental health training platform for workplaces this week announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

Calgary-based Headversity unveiled Kelly Schmitt as the new CEO effective October.

Schmitt takes over the role from Headversity cofounder Ryan Todd.

“This marks an important transition for Headversity, timed with a major shift in the market,” stated Todd.

Dr. Todd, a practicing psychiatrist, will transition into the role of President, continuing to help guide the company’s mission.

“Organizations are moving beyond reactive perks and are now seeking the kind of comprehensive, standards-based programs that have always been our focus,” Todd believes.

Fellow cofounder Dr. Jordan DeCoste will remain in his role as Chief Operating Officer, according to a statement from Headversity.

Schmitt joins Headversity with two decades of experience scaling technology and impact-driven companies, including executive roles at Solium Capital, SMART Technologies, and most recently Benevity, another Calgary-based innovator.

“Kelly’s experience taking Canadian tech companies to new heights, paired with her passion for mental health, makes her the ideal leader to help us meet this accelerating demand and scale globally,” remarked Todd.

Schmitt says she “couldn’t be more excited to join the team at Headversity.”

The new CEO believes that the company “has built an incredible foundation as a mission-driven leader in workplace mental health, and I see a massive opportunity to expand our impact.”

“It’s time we treat mental health with the same urgency, care, and investment we give to physical health,” she says.

Schmitt says her focus “will be on accelerating our use of best-practice AI to make our training even more personalized and effective, helping more organizations build resilience and meet today’s psychological safety standards.”

Headversity, recognized by both the Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies list and the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list, equips organizations with the tools to implement psychological safety standards.

The company currently serves more than 400 organizations across North America.