RC122 JanFeb 2026 - Magazine - Page 8
LEADERSHIP
Hatch CEO John Bianchini’s
experiences help him lead
with confidence by John Tenpenny
John Bianchini
currently holds
the role of chair
and CEO of Hatch,
only the fourth
individual to do so
in the company’s
70-year history.
He leads a global
organization of
12,000 employees
in more than 100
offices on six
continents.
HEN JOHN BIANCHINI describes the experiences that
shaped his leadership, he points not to boardrooms or strategy papers, but to thousands of
miles traveled, many cultures encountered, and
early lessons learned from mentors who shaped
his thinking. “Re昀氀ecting on my career,” he says,
“working around the world has been absolutely critical to my
development as the leader I am today.”
It’s a theme that runs through Bianchini’s story: leadership built not through hierarchy, but through immersion, observation, and a deep commitment to understanding people.
W
8—RENEW CANADA – JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
John Tenpenny is the
editor of ReNew Canada.
john@actualmedia.ca
A career built on mentorship
When Bianchini joined Hatch
in 1985 as a graduate chemical
engineer straight out of the
University of Toronto, he could
not have known how deeply the
昀椀rm—and its founder, Dr. Gerald
Hatch—would in昀氀uence his approach to leadership.
He often recalls one of Dr. Hatch’s most enduring lessons: “One of his most memorable pieces of advice was
to always ‘do your homework.’” But the phrase meant
more than being technically prepared. “This wasn’t
just about mastering the engineering fundamentals,”
Bianchini explains, “but also about taking the time to
understand people—what drives them, and how to help
them succeed.”
This balance between technical rigor and deep human
understanding would become a hallmark of his leadership. As his career advanced through roles as project
manager, global managing director, and ultimately CEO,
he held 昀椀rmly to values of collaboration, mentorship, and
ownership.
“It’s this rich experience that inspired me to create
leadership development programs aimed at mentoring
and challenging young professionals,” he says. “Many
of these individuals have now risen to senior leadership
positions within the company.”
RENEWCANADA.NET
HATCH
GLOBAL
PERSPECTIVE
A global career
In the early years of his career, Bianchini found himself on
the move—supporting projects abroad as Hatch expanded into new markets. He calls these years formative.
“Early in my career, I had the opportunity to travel extensively, assisting in the development and improvement of
metallurgical processing facilities as Hatch expanded its
global footprint to serve our clients around the world.”
Later, he and his family lived in three countries—
Canada, South Africa, and Australia—experiences that
profoundly shaped his understanding of leadership
and culture. “These 昀椀rsthand
experiences immersed in various
cultures and markets have been
transformative,” he says. “They
taught me the importance of
building trust, adapting to diverse environments, and leading
teams across six continents with
empathy and understanding.”
For Bianchini, these global
experiences didn’t just help him
grow—they continue to guide
him as CEO. “Having this global
perspective is indispensable,” he
explains. “It enables me to guide
our international organization
with con昀椀dence, drawing from
a wealth of experiences and
insights gained from my time
abroad.”
