Blackline Safety appoints Jon Baldwin as Chief Executive

Blackline Safety has appointed Jon Baldwin as chief executive officer, with long-serving chief executive officer Cody Slater moving into the roles of board chair and chief architect.

Baldwin succeeds Slater after more than 15 years of leadership, during which the Calgary-based company expanded its revenue, product range and international reach.

Before joining Blackline, Baldwin led Verra Mobility's Government Solutions business, which focuses on connected systems for traffic safety. He also served as president of Fortive's Gems Sensors & Controls business and held senior roles at Tektronix, Texas Instruments, National Semiconductor and Analogue Devices.

Blackline said Baldwin brings more than 20 years of experience in connected technology, sensing and hardware businesses. The company sells connected worker safety devices and software to industrial customers in more than 75 countries.

Leadership change

The appointment marks a handover at a company that grew sharply under Slater's tenure. Annual revenue rose from C$2 million in fiscal 2011 to more than C$150 million in fiscal 2025, according to Blackline.

During that period, the business expanded beyond lone-worker technology into a connected safety offering that includes gas detection, area monitoring, communications, cloud software and data analytics.

In his new role, Slater will remain involved in the company's product and technology direction. Blackline said he will continue to help shape its vision as board chair and chief architect.

"Blackline has built something truly differentiated - a connected safety platform that brings together purpose-built hardware, software, connectivity and data to protect people working in some of the world's most demanding environments," said Jon Baldwin, chief executive officer, Blackline Safety.

"I'm excited to join a company with such a strong mission, talented team and significant opportunity ahead. Cody and the Blackline team have built an exceptional foundation, and I look forward to building on that success and bringing Blackline's technology to even more workers around the world."

Growth record

Blackline operates in industrial safety technology, with products that combine wearable devices, gas monitoring and cloud-connected software. Its systems are used by tens of thousands of workers and have generated more than 336 billion data points and more than eight million emergency alerts, the company said.

The growth attracted backing from Francisco Partners, whose representatives commented on the management change. The investor said the transition combines continuity from Slater with operational experience from Baldwin.

"Everything we've built at Blackline starts with protecting workers and using technology to help bring people home safe," said Cody Slater, board chair and chief architect, Blackline Safety.

"I'm incredibly proud of how our team has turned that mission into a global connected safety company, and I believe the opportunity ahead of us is even greater. Jon brings an impressive combination of technology leadership, global operating experience and a proven ability to scale businesses, and I'm looking forward to working with him as Blackline continues to define the boundaries of what connected safety can do."

Francisco Partners framed the appointment around customer trust and market expansion, while also pointing to Slater's continuing role after the leadership handover.

"Blackline's customers trust its technology with the safety of their people every day, and that trust is the foundation of the business," said Mac Fountain, principal, Francisco Partners.

"Jon knows how to take great products to more customers in more markets, and we are excited for him to extend Blackline's reach and build on its product leadership."

Christine Wang, a partner at Francisco Partners, also commented on Slater's continued involvement.

"Cody's leadership has shaped Blackline into the company it is today, and we're pleased that he will remain an important part of its future as board chair and chief architect," said Wang.